GIFT  OF 
rJolvK     HOY 


DORCAS 


DORCAS 

The   Daughter  of  Faustina 


BY 

NATHAN  C.  KOUNS 

AUTHOR  OF    "ARIUS  THE   LIBYAN" 


SAN  FRANCISCO 

JOHN  HOWELL 

1922 


COPYRIGHT,  1884 
BY  OUR  CONTINENT  PUBLISHING  CO. 

COPYRIGHT,  1911 
BY  N.  E.  MORSE  AND  M.  M.  BUNTING 


Entered  at  Stationers'  Hall,  London 
All  Rights  Reserved 


Third  Edition,  1922 


FEINTED   IN    THB    UNITED    STATES    OF   AMERICA 


PREFACE 

TN  the  Catacombs  of  Rome  Is  an  ancient  tomb 
•*•  wherein  repose  the  mortal  remains  of  some 
Christian  martyr.  A  slab  of  white  marble  closes 
the  little  crypt  cut  out  of  the  rock  to  be  her  sar 
cophagus,  and  upon  this  slab  a  careful,  but  un 
skilled  hand  hath  cut  an  inscription  that  readeth 
after  the  fashion  shown  in  this  book;  the  Eng 
lish  of  which  is,  "  Here  lies  Faustina.  In  peace." 
The  name  is  Latin,  the  inscription  is  in  the 
Greek  tongue,  the  word  Shalom  or  "  Peace  "  is 
in  Hebrew.  The  character  in  the  lower  middle 
portion  of  the  slab  indicates  that  she  died  a  martyr 
to  her  faith,  and  the  urn  at  the  left  is  a  symbol  of 
Christian  burial.  Who  was  she?  How  died 
she?  When? 

Musing  alone  beside  this  last  resting-place  of 
one  who  died  for  Jesus  centuries  ago,  my  lamp 
flickered  and  expired;  and  then  in  the  subterranean 

5 

540952 


6  PREFACE 

darkness  of  the  catacombs  the  dead  forms  around 
me  seemed  to  live  again,  re-peopling  the  past  in 
which  they  lived,  and  loved,  and  suffered,  and 
what  I  beheld,  as  in  a  vision,  I  seek  now  to  repro 
duce  in  this  story  of  ANTI-CHRIST.  Those  of 
whom  I  learned  it  knew  whereof  they  spoke,  and 
the  reader  may  rely  upon  the  verity  of  all  things 
that  are  set  forth  as  facts. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

PREFACE      

I    DORCAS  THE  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA    .     .     .     .     n 
II    TOGA  VIRILIS 18 

III  IN  WHICH  DORCAS  ASKETH  QUESTIONS     ...    28 

IV  IN  WHICH  DORCAS  RUNNETH  AWAY  ....    47 
V    IN  WHICH  DORCAS  HEARETH  THE  STORY  OF  FAUS 
TINA  68 

VI    THE  SWADDLING  BANDS  OF  ANTI-CHRIST  ...     78 
VII    WHICH   SHOWETH  How   MARCELLUS   CONDUCTED 

HIMSELF 91 

VIII    JUSTICE  TO  A  CHRISTIAN  AFTER  THE  HIGH  ROMAN 

FASHION 99 

IX    A  FAIR  CONTRACT  FOR  A  PAGAN 109 

X    "  HE  THAT  SEEKETH  FINDETH  " 126 

XI    IN  WHICH  PHOEBE  REDEEMETH  HER  PROMISE     .  141 
XII    IN  WHICH  THE  GOSPEL  is  STATED  — As  IT  WAS 

IN  A.  D.  312 158 

XIII  BIRDS,  BEASTS  AND  ORACLES,  THAT  TESTIFY  .     .  172 

XIV  IN  WHICH  MARCELLUS  DISCOVERETH  A  BARBARIAN  188 
XV    IN  WHICH  THERE  is  SOME  TALK  OF  MARRIAGE  .  196 

XVI    IN  WHICH  EUSEBIUS  OFFERETH  THE  SWADDLING- 
BANDS  UNTO  THE  CHURCH 207 

XVII    IN  WHICH  THE  BARBARIAN  is  CIVILIZED  .     .     .219 
XVIII    IN  WHICH  EUSEBIUS  SHOWETH  THE  SWADDLING 

BANDS  OF  CONSTANTINE 229 

XIX    IN  WHICH  THERE  is  A  DEATH  AND  ALSO  A  MAR 
RIAGE       244 

XX    FINIS 250 

7 


DORCAS 


DORCAS 

DAUGHTER  OF   FAUSTINA 
CHAPTER  I 

DORCAS,   THE   DAUGHTER   OF   FAUSTINA 

TN  the  year  310,  a  villa  stood  upon  the  Appian 
•^  Way  in  the  suburbs  of  the  City  of  Rome,  which 
had  been  builded  in  the  usual  fashion  of  the  better 
class  of  Roman  houses  of  that  period,  and  was 
owned  and  occupied  by  the  Vice-Prefect  Varus, 
whose  command  constituted  a  portion  of  the  city 
guards,  and  was  usually  stationed  near  the 
Campus  Martius.  This  man,  a  relative  of  that 
Varus  who  had  been  terribly  defeated  by  the 
German  barbarians  in  the  forest  of  Teutoberg, 
in  the  days  when  Tiberius  was  emperor,  and  had 
fallen  upon  his  own  sword  and  died  because  of 
his  mortification  over  that  defeat,  was  a  perfect 
type  of  the  Roman  officer,  devoted  to  military  lifer 
thoroughly  trained  to  his  inhuman  profession,  and 
incapable  of  judging  of  the  right  or  wrong  of 
anything  unless  some  military  order  or  custom 
had  first  decided  it.  In  other  words,  he  knew 

ii 


12     DCJRCAS,- DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

no  sense  of  duty  except  to  conform  to  military 
usages,  and  obey  such  orders  as  he  might  receive 
from  his  superiors;  yet  he  was  not  narrow- 
minded,  weak  nor  ignorant.  He  was,  indeed,  a 
man  of  large  intelligence  and  of  considerable 
literary  attainments.  He  had  served  for  many 
years  in  Italy  and  in  foreign  lands,  and  being  be 
yond  the  meridian  of  life  and  somewhat  disabled 
by  honorable  wounds,  he  had  obtained  a  lucrative 
position  in  the  legions  stationed  about  the  city, 
the  duties  of  which  were  so  light  that  he  passed 
the  greater  portion  of  his  time  at  the  villa  with 
his  wife  Calpha,  his  son  Marcellus  and  the  throng 
of  domestic  slaves  usually  found  about  an  opulent 
Roman's  house. 

The  house  of  Varus  stood  back  a  short  distance 
from  the  splendid  highway,  and  was  surrounded 
by  extensive  grounds  laid  off  in  circles,  rectangles 
and  irregular  forms,  bordered  with  shrubs  and 
flowers  and  cultivated  in  vineyards,  orchards  and 
gardens.  Here  and  there  amid  the  foliage  of 
the  trees  gleamed  numerous  marble  statues,  the 
lovely  Venus,  the  reeling  Bacchus,  the  sovereign 
Jupiter,  Silence,  with  marble  finger  on  his  marble 
lips,  and  numerous  other  deities. 

The  son  of  Varus  was  the  model  of  a  Roman 
youth,  tall,  agile,  athletic  and  almost  singularly 
handsome.  In  a  short  time  he  would  be  of  age, 
and  through  his  father's  influence  he  had  already 


DORCAS  13 

obtained  an  appointment  as  centurion  to  take  ef 
fect  upon  the  day  that  he  should  "  burn  his 
beard  "  and  assume  the  virile  toga. 

The  Vice-Prefect  sat  in  the  shade  one  day  in 
front  of  his  open  portico,  tracing  words  and 
figures  with  the  point  of  his  sword  in  the  sand  and 
gravel  of  the  broad  walk  leading  from  the  house 
to  the  highway,  when  up  from  the  marble  stile 
upon  the  road  a  tall  and  swarthy  man  approached, 
leading  a  young  girl  by  the  hand.  So  preoccupied 
was  Varus  that  he  did  not  notice  their  coming 
until  the  tall  man's  shadow  fell  upon  the  figure 
he  was  making  in  the  sand,  and  upon  raising  his 
head  to  see  whom  his  visitors  might  be,  received 
a  respectful  salute,  and  the  man  said  in  the  Greek 
language,  then  much  used  at  Rome : 
"  Art  thou  the  Vice-Prefect  Varus?  " 
"  Yea,"  answered  Varus;  "  who  art  thou?  " 
"  I  am  Epaphras,  an  Israelite,  and  the  maiden 
is  Dorcas,  the  daughter  of  Faustina,  whom  I  have 
brought  to  thee  because  I  heard  in  the  city  that 
thou  desirest  to  employ  a  damsel  who  can  read 
and  speak  the  Greek  and  the  Latin,  and  is  not 
wholly  uninstructed  in  the  Hebrew  tongue." 

"  Yea,     yea !  "     cried     the     Vice-Prefect,     his , 
bronzed  face  lighting  up  with  pleasure,  "  I  greatly 
desire  to  hire  such  a  girl,  and  will  pay  liberally 
for  her  services.     We  have  four  millions  of  peo 
ple  in  holy  Rome,  and  the  greater  part  of  them 


14     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

are  slaves,  yet  is  it  difficult  to  obtain  a  slave  fit 
for  the  duties  I  wish  done,  the  few  of  them  who 
are  sufficiently  educated  being  kept  by  the  senators 
and  patricians  in  the  city.  But  this  girl  is  almost 
a  child;  can  she  write  as  well  as  speak  the  Greek 
and  the  Latin?  " 

"Yea,  verily,"  Epaphras  said;  "for  the 
maiden  is  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  hardly  knoweth 
which  may  be  her  native  tongue,  as  she  hath  been 
accustomed  to  use  them  both  alike  from  her  very 
childhood." 

"  Then  I  shall  mark  this  a  lucky  day,"  said 
Varus,  "  for  my  sight  faileth  me  so  that  I  read 
with  difficulty,  and  it  is  a  dreary  thing  to  stay  all 
day  at  home  listening  to  the  silly  chattering  of 
Calpha  and  her  women.  Name  the  price,  Jew, 
and  believe  thou  that  the  girl  hath  found  a 
friend  indeed  if  she  can  read  and  write  as  thou 
sayest." 

"The  price  of  her  services,"  said  Epaphras, 
"  is  a  secondary  consideration,  and  may  safely  be 
left  to  thy  liberality;  but  thou  art  an  honorable 
Roman,  and  before  I  commit  the  maiden  to  thy 
care,  there  are  certain  conditions  for  the  per 
formance  of  which  thou  must  pledge  me  thy 
word." 

Then  the  brows  of  Varus  contracted  impa 
tiently,  and  he  sharply  answered: 

"  Surely  no  Roman  hath  ever  bargained  with  a 


DORCAS  15 

Jew  but  that  he  is  bound  by  some  unreasonable 
conditions.     But  what  are  thine?" 

"  Naught  unreasonable,  I  hope,"  replied 
Epaphras.  '  The  maiden  is  not  a  slave,  but  is 
free-born,  and  the  conditions  are  only  that  she 
shall  not  be  questioned  nor  argued  with  concern 
ing  our  religion;  only  that  she  shall  have  the 
Seventh  day  for  her  own,  without  let  or  hin 
drance;  only  that  she  shall  not  be  required  to 
obey  any  orders  save  thine  and  those  of  thy  wife." 

*  These  are  but  just  and  reasonable  conditions," 
said  Varus,  "  and  I  give  thee  my  sacred  word 
that  they  shall  be  faithfully  observed.  Of  course, 
no  sensible  Roman  ever  expects  a  Jew  to  abandon 
the  severe  and  inhuman  tenets  of  his  religion,  or 
to  permit  his  children  to  do  so,  in  order  to  learn 
the  more  reasonable  and  delightful  worship  of 
the  gods  of  Rome;  but  chiefly  desire  the  girl  to 
read  and  write  for  me,  and  if  she  should  some 
times  bring  a  small  amphora  from  the  cellar  and 
serve  me  with  a  little  wine,  that  is  the  only  other 
duty  I  shall  require  of  her." 

'*  Then  I  do  place  her  under  thy  protection,  and 
will  take  my  leave." 

"  But  where  and  when  wilt  thou  collect  her, 
wages?  "  said  Varus. 

"  Give  unto  her  weekly  whatever  thou  wilt," 
said  Epaphras.  "  A  good  home  with  reputable 
people,  and  kind  treatment,  is  more  to  the  maiden 


1 6     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

and   to    me    than    wages,    although   we    are    but 
poor." 

"  And  wilt  thou  trust  a  child  with  money?" 
asked  Varus. 

4  Yea,"  replied  Epaphras,  his  dark  face  flush 
ing  vividly,  "  I  would  trust  this  child  with  un 
counted  money  —  with  my  life,  if  need  be.  If 
she  do  ever  steal  from  thee,  if  she  do  ever  lie  to 
thee,  if  thou  findest  her  in  anything  lacking  truth, 
integrity  and  modesty,  take  out  thine  anger  upon 
me  with  sword  or  stave,  or  what  thou  wilt !  " 

:<  What  is  thy  name,  child?  "  asked  Varus. 

"  Dorcas,  the  daughter  of  Faustina,"  answered 
she. 

"  If  thou  dost  merit  the  confidence  and  praise 
this  Israelite  bestows  upon  thee,  Dorcas,  count  it  a 
happy  day  which  brought  thee  to  my  house." 

Then,  turning  to  Epaphras,  he  said,  "  Fare 
well." 

And  Epaphras,  with  a  low  bow,  said,  "  Fare 
well,  Vice-Prefect !  "  But  ere  he  turned  away 
Epaphras  clasped  the  hand  of  Dorcas,  kissed  her 
fair  white  brow,  and,  with  a  glance  of  unutter 
able  tenderness,  whispered,  "  The  Lord  preserve 
thee,  child !  "  to  which,  in  a  like  subdued  tone, 
she  answered,  "  And  thee,  also,  father." 

Then  saying,  "  Follow  me,"  Varus  led  Dorcas 
into  the  atrium,  or  central  hall,  into  which  the 
numerous  rooms  of  the  house  all  opened,  and 


DORCAS  17 

thence  into  a  small  room  on  the  left,  which  he 
called  his  library;  and  seating  himself  comfort 
ably,  he  placed  in  her  hands  some  leaves  of  the 
Anabasis,  saying,  "  Be  thou  seated,  and  read  this 
for  me." 

And  thus  was  Dorcas  installed  in  her  humble 
but  pleasant  position  in  the  villa  of  the  Vice-Pre 
fect  Varus. 


CHAPTER  II 

TOGA  YIRILIS 

'  I  VHE  months  passed  swiftly  and  quietly,  and 
•*•  the  day  came  upon  which  Marcellus  was  to 
celebrate  his  coming  of  age,  after  the  manner  of 
the  golden  youth  of  Rome;  and,  although  he  had 
been  sending  messages  to  his  mother  and  orders 
to  the  slaves  for  days  before,  on  the  morning  -of 
the  eventful  day  he  came  on  horseback  to  the  villa 
to  see  for  himself  that  the  preparations  for  the 
revel  were  properly  made,  and  to  report  that  the 
soothsayers  had  announced  that  all  omens  and 
auguries  were  auspicious  for  celebrating  an  event 
so  important  in  the  life  of  a  young  gentleman 
of  the  Imperial  City.  The  young  man  leaped 
from  his  horse  at  the  stile  in  front  of  the  house, 
and  left  the  beast  as  if  he  knew  there  must  be 
some  one  there  to  take  charge  of  him,  some  one 
of  the  slaves  to  whom  the  benevolent  gods  of 
Rome  had  given  life  only  that  they  might  minister 
to  the  conveniences,  passions  and  pleasures  of 
those  upper  classes  for  whom  the  world  was  made. 
The  young  man  came  swinging  up  the  broad 
gravel  walk  with  that  swift,  martial  tread  which 

18 


TOGA  VIRILIS  19 

the  thorough  military  training  that  his  father  had 
given  to  him  seemed  to  have  made  his  natural 
gait;  for,  careless  about  many  things,  the  Vice- 
Prefect  had  insisted,  with  steady  and  inflexible  de 
termination,  that  the  boy  must  be  a  thorough 
soldier,  and  had  never  permitted  any  excuses  to 
avail  for  evading  daily  military  exercises;  and, 
indeed,  the  youth's  martial  spirit  had  seconded  his 
father's  settled  purpose  so  well  that  the  boy  was 
as  proficient  in  the  tactics,  and  even  in  the  military 
laws  which  prevailed  in  the  armies  of  the  empire, 
as  any  veteran.  He  came  rushing  into  the  house 
with  a  boisterous  and  half-boyish  good  humor  and 
impatience,  nodded  courteously  to  his  mother, 
Calpha,  kissed  some  of  the  slave-girls  in  her  pres 
ence,  and  hugged  and  tousled  others  until  they 
ran  off  screaming  and  laughing  to  avoid  the  em 
braces  of  the  romping  youth,  and  then  began  to 
make  minute  and  rapid  inquiries  after  almost  every 
item  of  the  preparations  in  progress  for  the  com 
ing  feast,  and  especially  as  to  the  quality  of  snow 
which  had  been  brought  from  Mount  Soracte, 
and  as  to  the  particular  amphoras  of  wine  that 
had  been  packed  away  in  it. 

During  the  few  months  she  had  been  at  the 
villa  Dorcas  had  so  greatly  pleased  the  Vice-Pre 
fect  by  her  reading  and  writing,  and  by  her 
pleasant  but  always  cautious  conversation,  that  he 
felt  the  girl  to  be  indispensable  to  his  comfort, 


20     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

and  never  permitted  anything  to  interfere  with  the 
services  she  was  accustomed  to  render  him.  But 
whenever  any  duty  of  his  official  position  required 
his  presence  in  the  city  she  was  left  very  much  to 
her  own  devices  and  inclinations;  and  generally 
she  went  into  the  atrium  and  volunteered  to  aid 
Calpha  and  the  slaves  in  the  preparation  or  spin 
ning  of  wool  and  flax,  in  preserving  various  fruits, 
and  in  other  domestic  operations;  and  she  was 
always  so  quiet,  cheerful  and  neat  that  her  aid 
was  exceedingly  acceptable.  But  both  Calpha 
and  the  slaves  observed  that  whenever  their  talk 
drifted  into  the  licentiousness  and  immodesty 
which  were  common  in  the  gossipings  of  all  Ro 
man  women,  high  and  low,  the  girl  at  once  be 
came  silent,  her  sweet  young  face  grew  very  grave, 
and  if  it  were  at  all  convenient  to  leave  the  atrium 
she  would  do  so  immediately;  but  her  uniform 
kindness  to  all  of  them  prevented  them  from  re 
senting  her  manifest  loathing  of  subjects  which  al 
ways  formed  the  staple  of  their  talk,  and  the  ten 
derness  and  reverence  which  were  constantly  mani 
fest  in  her  deportment  toward  Calpha,  the  wife 
of  Varus,  the  mother  of  Marcellus,  the  mistress 
of  these  slaves,  was  a  thing  so  new  and  pleasant 
to  that  most  reputable  matron  that  she  wondered 
how  and  where  the  girl  had  acquired  manners 
that  seemed  naturally  to  exhibit  a  degree  of  re 
spect  for  herself  which  no  Roman  mother  ever 


TOGA  VIRILIS  21 

expected  or  received  from  her  own  daughters  — 
a  reverence  that  was  not  based  upon  fear,  like 
that  of  her  domestics,  but  that  seemed  to  be  spon 
taneous,  loving  and  sincere. 

Indeed,  while  the  Vice-Prefect  Varus  was  a 
better  husband,  a  better  father,  a  better  master, 
and,  in  almost  every  respect,  a  better  man  than 
any  other  Roman  of  his  rank  and  wealth,  Dorcas 
had  dwelt  at  the  villa  but  a  short  time  before  she 
perceived,  young  as  she  was,  that  under  the  social 
and  political  system  of  the  empire  the  wives  of 
even  the  most  reputable  Romans  were  only  a 
better  sort  of  slaves,  in  spite  of  the  vain  shadow 
of  respect  which  the  law  threw  over  them.  Cal- 
pha,  in  every  respect  a  very  worthy  and  sensible 
woman,  stood  somewhat  higher  in  the  estimation 
of  her  husband  and  son  (themselves  most  excel 
lent  Romans)  than  would  a  mare  that  had  been 
dam  to  a  very  fine  colt,  or  a  slave  that  had  chanced 
to  render  some  extraordinary  service.  The  single 
advantage  that  the  wife  had  over  the  other  do 
mestics  consisted  in  the  fact  that  her  legal  rela 
tion  to  the  master  of  the  house  made  her  offspring 
legitimate,  and  also  gave  her  power  to  control  her 
husband's  other  slaves. 

Not  knowing  that  the  young  man  had  come 
home,  Dorcas  went  into  the  atrium,  as  usual,  to 
offer  such  aid  as  she  might  be  able  to  render  in  the 
doing  of  their  domestic  tasks;  and  Marcellus  no 


22      DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

sooner  saw  her  than,  gazing  upon  her  with  undis 
guised  admiration,  he  cried  aloud:  "  Dioscuri ! 
but  the  Vice-Prefect  hath  shown  marvelous  good 
taste  in  the  purchase  of  such  a  new  slave  as  that! 
And  do  thou  remember,  girl,  that  to  prevent  any 
growth  of  jealousy  upon  the  part  of  Calpha 
against  my  most  reputable  father,  from  this  day 
I  claim  thee  for  mine  own."  Then,  darting  for 
ward,  he  seized  her  hand  in  one  of  his  own,  and 
catching  her  about  the  waist  with  the  other,  he 
kissed  her  before  she  could  break  from  his  grasp, 
while  he  rattled  away  in  praise  of  her  beauty: 
"  By  Aphrodite !  thou  art  beautiful !  Thy  brow 
is  fairer  than  a  marble  god's !  Thine  eyes  are 
bluer  and  deeper  than  the  summer  sky !  Thy  lips 
are  redder  than  the  scarlet  cherries !  Thy  cheeks 
are  pinker  than  the  sea  shell's  delicatest  bloom !  " 
But  before  the  delighted  and  laughing  youth  had 
finished  his  panegyric  Dorcas  had  glided  out  of  his 
embrace,  and  sprang  away  behind  his  mother's 
chair,  and  stood  there  gazing,  flushed  and  in 
dignant,  upon  the  handsome  youth,  but  silent  still. 
"  Come  thou  hither,"  said  Marcellus,  "  for  thou 
shalt  be  fast  friend  with  me.  By  foam-born 
Venus,  no  other  Roman  hath  so  beautiful  a  slave, 
and  thou  shalt  be  my  pet  and  favorite  henceforth ! 
Come  hither,  girl !  " 

But  Dorcas  raised  her  queenly  little  head,  and, 
gazing  with  quiet  self-possession  into  the  young 


TOGA  VIRILIS  23 

man's  eager  face,  in  low  and  modulated  tones  as 
sweet  as  flute-notes,  answered  thus :  ;<  Thou  art 
greatly  mistaken,  centurion,  for  I  am  not  a  slave, 
but  born  as  free  as  thou  art;  and  I  hope  that  thy 
conduct,  which  seemeth  to  have  grown  out  of  this 
mistake,  will  never  be  repeated." 

"What,  then,  art  thou  doing  here?"  asked 
Marcellus. 

"  I  serve  the  Vice-Prefect  Varus  upon  a  con 
tract,  one  condition  of  which  is  that  I  am  subject 
to  the  orders  of  no  one  in  his  house  except  his  own 
and  those  of  thy  mother,  Calpha  1  " 

"  Then  thou,  Calpha,  command  this  beautiful 
hireling  that  she  come  hither  and  make  friends 
with  me." 

"  Nay!  "  said  Calpha.  "  I  will  in  no  wise  in 
terfere  with  thy  father's  wishes,  by  which  the 
maiden  is  to  be  free  of  all  control ;  for  he  is  mar- 
velously  attached  to  Dorcas.  And  besides,"  she 
continued  with  a  sly  smile,  "  to  me  it  seemeth  that 
one  of  the  handsomest  youths  in  holy  Rome  should 
scorn  to  implore  his  mother's  help  to  win  the  dam 
sel's  favor!" 

"  I  will  not  do  so,"  said  Marcellus;  "  but  by  the 
gods  of  Rome,  I  will  have  her,  and  win  her  for 
myself,  too!  For  there  is  no  girl  of  her  class 
in  the  Imperial  City  that  would  hesitate  to  put  all 
her  wages  into  an  offering  to  Venus  to  gain  so 
much  of  my  praise  and  admiration  as  thou  dost 


24     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

'0 

scornfully  reject."  But  Dorcas  had  quietly  left 
the  room,  nor  did  Marcellus  see  her  again  that 
day,  although  he  was  here,  there  and  everywhere, 
bustling  around  and  meddling  with  the  arrange 
ments  for  the  coming  feast,  now  and  then  exhibit 
ing  toward  the  young  female  slaves  a  tactual  fa 
miliarity  and  kindness  which  showed  that  his  boast 
of  being  a  favorite  was  no  extravagance,  and 
which,  alas!  also  showed  that  the  sacred  delicacy 
which  belongs  to  womanhood  was  unknown  and 
unrecognized  even  in  a  household  so  very  respect 
able  as  that  of  the  Vice-Prefect. 

About  nightfall  the  young  friends  of  the  cen 
turion  began  to  arrive,  and  many  of  them  were 
accompanied  by  favorite  slaves  or  other  feminine 
friends.  Soon  the  customary  rites  began  with  the 
burning  of  the  beard  of  Marcellus,  with  libations 
to  the  Lares  and  Penates,  the  household  gods  of 
Rome,  with  other  libations  and  offerings  to  Venus 
and  to  Mars,  and  with  strange  ceremonies  which 
the  later  Romans  had  learned  of  Egypt  in  honor 
of  Anubis,  Astarte,  and  Cybele! 

Then  the  banquet  began,  in  which  the  young 
men  reclined  around  the  table  spread  in  the  great 
hall,  tasted  delicacies  which  were  of  themselves 
enough  to  prove  that  almost  every  clime  and  peo 
ple  under  heaven  paid  tribute  to  the  luxury  as 
well  as  the  power  of  Rome.  Each  separate 
course  of  the  feast  was  followed  or  accompanied 


TOGA  VIRILIS  25 

by  liberal  draughts  of  different  wines,  and  the 
girls  who  reclined  with  the  young  gentlemen  at 
table  (a  privilege  from  which  their  own  sisters, 
and  all  matrons,  were  jealously  excluded  by  Ro 
man  customs)  were  not  behind  their  masculine 
associates  in  eating  or  in  drinking,  or  in  wit  and 
ribaldry.  Hour  after  hour  the  feast  continued, 
the  wine  circulated  more  and  more  freely,  the 
jest  became  broader,  the  conversation  louder  and 
more  unrestrained,  and  the  song  and  glance  more 
reckless,  until  far  into  the  night,  both  sexes  seemed 
to  have  reached  the  last  stages  of  inebriety  and  in 
decency;  and  some  of  them  were  still  lying  around 
the  tables  in  the  hall,  some  had  wandered  out 
into  the  surrounding  grounds,  and,  here  and  there 
upon  the  rustic  benches  or  the  pleasanter  couch  of 
grass,  slept  off  the  wild  debauch.  It  was  a 
drunken  revelry  that  would  have  disgraced  a  Ro 
man  in  the  earlier  and  better  days  of  Rome,  but 
which  at  that  era  was  the  universal  custom  among 
the  wealthy  classes,  not  supposed  to  merit  censure 
at  all,  and  which  was  regarded  as  the  usual  and 
proper  thing  by  the  Vice-Prefect  and  his  wife, 
whose  only  concern  was  to  see  that  the  wants  of 
the  guests  were  properly  supplied,  and  that  any 
approach  to  quarreling  was  promptly  checked  be 
fore  it  could  assume  the  features  of  a  brawl.  It 
was  a  fair  index  to  the  state  of  private  morals 
throughout  the  empire,  and  especially  at  Rome. 


26     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

These  young  men  were  not  lost  to  the  sense  of 
shame  that  in  a  better  age  would  necessarily  have 
sprung  from  such  luxurious  and  unmanly  excesses 
because  they  were  bad  men  or  worse  than  other 
Romans  of  their  class,  but  they  were  entirely  de 
void  of  any  sense  of  shame  because  they  did  not 
know  that  there  was  anything  in  these  customs  and 
conduct  of  which  to  be  ashamed.  They  were  only 
acting  in  accordance  with  the  teachings  of  their  age 
and  country,  and  saw  nothing  disreputable  to  their 
own  characters,  or  unacceptable  to  the  gods,  in 
any  feature  of  their  revelry. 

Dorcas  had  declined  the  request  of  Calpha  that 
she  would  remain  in  the  atrium,  but,  seated  at  one 
of  the  small  windows  characteristic  of  Roman 
architecture  at  the  far  end  of  one  of  the  little 
rooms  which  opened  into  the  hall,  herself  in  dark 
ness  almost,  she  gazed  with  vivid  interest  into  the 
illuminated  room,  watching  the  rites  and  sub 
sequent  revelry,  until,  with  burning  cheek  and 
eye,  she  slipped  out  of  the  window  quietly  and 
sought  the  solitude  of  her  own  chamber,  adjoining 
that  which  Varus  called  his  library,  and  repeated, 
half  in  reverie,  in  the  splendid  language  of  the 
Greeks,  words  that  seemed  to  be  practically  illus 
trated  by  the  scenes  she  had  just  witnessed: 

"  Now  the  works  of  the  flesh  are  manifest, 
idolatry,  drunkenness,  revelings  and  such  like;  of 
which  I  tell  you  before,  as  I  have  also  told  you 


TOGA  VIRILIS  27 

in  times  past,  that  they  which  do  such  things  shall 
not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God.  But  the  fruit 
of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffering, 
gentleness,  goodness,  faith,  meekness,  temperance; 
against  such  there  is  no  law.  And  they  that  are 
Christ's  have  crucified  the  flesh  with  the  affections 
and  lusts !  " 

But  continued  she,  musingly,  "  The  centurion 
is  so  young,  so  handsome,  so  full  of  life,  and  joy, 
and  kindness,  and  he  knows  no  better  than  he 
does!" 


CHAPTER  III 

IN   WHICH   DORCAS   ASKETH    QUESTIONS 

pHE  next  morning,  at  a  late  hour,  the  revelers 
•*•  whom  choice  had  detained  at  the  villa,  and 
those  whom  vinous  excesses  had  rendered  inca 
pable  of  making  their  way  back  to  the  city,  after 
certain  matutinal  libations  to  the  gods  and  a  gen 
erous  breakfast,  took  their  departure.  And  Mar- 
cellus,  also,  went  to  take  formal  command  of  his 
century  which  his  father  had  obtained  for  him, 
and  had  selected  beforehand.  For  some  days  he 
did  not  return  to  the  villa,  but  Dorcas  learned, 
from  daily  conversations  in  the  family,  that  the 
young  centurion  was  pursuing  a  round  of  dissipa 
tions  among  his  friends,  some  of  whom  were  al 
ready,  and  some  of  whom  were  expecting  to  be, 
admitted  into  the  military  service  of  the  empire 
about  the  same  period.  She  remarked  with  as 
tonishment  the  fact  that  while  Varus  was  him 
self  the  bearer  of  nearly  all  the  information  the 
family  received  concerning  Marcellus,  and  was  in 
formed  of  all  the  incidents  of  the  feasts  and  de 
baucheries  in  which  that  gallant  young  gentleman 
participated,  neither  he  nor  Calpha  ever  uttered  a 

28 


DORCAS  ASKETH  QUESTIONS  29 

word  of  censure  or  of  anxiety,  but  did  use  many 
expressions  which  indicated  their  opinion  to  be 
that  the  dissipations  constantly  referred  to  were  all 
right  and  proper  enough  in  a  young  man,  en 
tirely  consonant  with  the  customs  and  usages  of 
Roman  social  life,  and  with  the  religious  ideas 
of  paganism. 

The  Vice-Prefect  was  so  much  gratified  with  the 
manner  in  which  his  young  scribe  and  reader  per 
formed  the  tasks  required  of  her,  that  he  insensi 
bly  began  to  enlarge  the  sphere  of  her  duties,  so 
that,  in  place  of  confining  her  to  the  reading  of 
such  classics  as  belonged  to  him,  and  copying  pas 
sages  which  pleased  him  out  of  those  borrowed 
from  acquaintances  and  friends,  he  began  grad 
ually  to  employ  her  quick  intelligence  and  deft 
fingers  in  making  copies  of  such  reports  connected 
with  his  official  business  as  he  deemed  it  to  be 
necessary  to  make  in  duplicate.  One  day  Varus 
laid  before  her  the  report  of  his  criminal  juris 
diction  for  the  preceding  month,  setting  forth  that 
he  had  ordered  the  execution  or  other  punishment 
of  certain  malefactors  who  had  been  tried  and 
condemned  by  the  magistrates  and  transferred  to 
him  for  punishment.  In  transcribing  this  report 
she  came  upon  the  following  sentence: 

"  Besides  these  cases  of  ordinary  crime,  I  had  before  me 
seven  wretches  accused  of  the  crime  of  being  Christians. 
Two  of  them,  who  had  remained  silent  when  interrogated 


30     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

in  sight  of  the  implements  of  torture,  confessed  their 
guilt,  and  sacrificed  to  Jupiter,  and  were  thereupon  dis 
charged.  Three  of  them,  who  remained  obstinately 
silent,  I  had  flogged  soundly  and  banished  them  out  of  thy 
dominions.  Two  of  them,  who  insolently  boasted  of  their 
devotion  to  that  malignant  superstition,  and  ridiculed  the 
gods  of  Rome,  I  ordered  to  be  immediately  beheaded." 

When  the  young  girl  read  this  statement  in 
the  official  report,  she  turned  pale  and  trembled  so 
that  her  fingers  refused  to  perform  their  office, 
and  the  cessation  of  her  work  caught  the  attention 
of  the  Vice-Prefect,  who  was  looking  on  admir 
ing  the  ease  and  elegance  with  which  she  wrote. 

"What  aileth  thee,  Dorcas?"  he  said  kindly. 
"Art  thou  ill,  child?  If  so,  defer  thy  task  un 
til  to-morrow,  and  a  good  night's  rest  will  restore 
thee." 

But  mastering  her  emotion  by  a  resolute  effort, 
she  replied: 

"Nay,  Vice- Prefect!  It  hath  passed  me  by 
already,  and  I  will  finish  the  work  now." 

After  having  done  so,  and  finding  that  the  Vice- 
Prefect  seemed  to  be  more  inclined  to  conversa 
tion  than  to  assigning  her  any  other  task,  she  said : 

"  In  thy  report  I  find  that  thou  hast  inflicted 
punishment  upon  murderers,  thieves  and  house 
breakers.  Also  that  thou  hast  punished  others 
who  were  not  accused  of  such  crimes,  simply  say 
ing  that  they  were  charged  with  being  Christians. 


DORCAS  ASKETH  QUESTIONS  31 

Wilt  thou  tell  me  what  crimes  these  persons  had 
committed?  " 

"  Why,"  said  Varus,  "  they  were  members  of 
that  odious  sect  which  follows  Jesus  Christ,  whom 
the  Procurator,  Pontius  Pilate,  crucified  at  Jerusa 
lem,  in  the  days  when  the  Emperor  Tiberius  ruled 
the  world.  A  most  pestilent  superstition,  which, 
in  spite  of  the  efforts  of  many  pious  emperors  to 
suppress  it,  hath  spread  throughout  the  empire. 
But  the  most  holy  Emperor  Maxentius  hath  seen 
the  evil  of  any  indulgence  granted  to  this  criminal 
association,  and  hath  ordered  that  its  members 
be  punished  wherever  found,  according  to  the 
edicts  made  by  the  Emperor  Diocletian.  But 
surely  thou  —  a  Jewess,  must  have  heard  of  this 
Jesus !  " 

"Yea,"  answered  Dorcas;  "but  thy  report 
showeth  that  these  whom  thou  didst  punish  were 
called  Christians,  and  I  asked  thee  what  crimes 
they  were  said  to  have  committed?" 

"  None,"  said  Varus,  "  except  that  they  were 
Christians;  that  is  the  very  worst  of  crimes." 

"  But  if  I  do  not  weary  thee,"  said  Dorcas, 
"  tell  me  whether  it  is  the  custom  of  the  Romans 
to  punish  all  who  differ  with  them  in  religion?" 

"Surely  not,"  answered  Varus;  "Rome  pro 
tects  and  welcomes  all  religions  under  heaven,  and 
doth  not  even  punish  thine  own  stubborn  and  pre 
sumptuous  people,  but  permitteth  the  Jews  to  live 


32     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

in  the  city,  although  they  refuse  to  sacrifice  unto 
the  gods  of  Rome." 

'*  Why,  then,  is  it  esteemed  so  great  a  crime 
to  profess  the  Christian  faith  ?  " 

"  Because,"  rejoined  Varus,  "  this  most  odious 
superstition  hath  grown  into  a  secret  organiza 
tion  governed  by  extravagant  laws  contrary  to  the 
customs  of  our  ancestors  and  inconsistent  with  the 
laws  of  the  empire." 

;<  Wilt  thou  inform  me  in  what  things  they 
differ  from  the  Roman  laws  —  things  of  conse 
quence  enough  to  incur  the  displeasure  of  the  Em 
peror?  " 

"  Certainly,  child,  if  thou  seekest  knowledge. 
In  the  first  place,  this  most  impious  sect  mock  and 
deride  the  gods  of  Rome  and  every  other  nation, 
refusing  to  visit  the  temples  or  to  sacrifice.  This 
mere  atheism  of  the  Christians  would  not  be 
esteemed  a  crime  punishable  by  law;  but  this  per 
nicious  sect  hath  held  and  taught  for  three  cen 
turies  that  no  man  ought  to  bear  arms  even  in 
defense  of  his  country,  and  the  acceptance  of  this 
pusillanimous  dogma  would  destroy  the  legions 
and  expose  Rome  and  the  empire  to  be  plundered 
by  the  Barbarians.  Of  course  the  law  does  not 
and  ought  not  to  permit  the  existence  of  a  sect 
which  makes  it  a  matter  of  religion  to  discourage 
enlistments  and  promote  desertion." 

"  I  can  understand,"  replied  Dorcas,  "  how  it 


DORCAS  ASKETH  QUESTIONS          33 

may  be  that  a  great  and  warlike  people,  as  the 
Romans  have  always  been,  should  seek  to  destroy 
a  religion  which  opposes  all  wars,  and  forbids  its 
followers  to  bear  arms.  Yet,  Vice-Prefect,  to  an 
innocent  and  ignorant  girl  like  me,  it  doth  seem 
that  thine  own  experience  upon  this  point  would 
lead  thee  to  protect,  rather  than  to  punish,  the 
Christians." 

"  How  can  that  be  possible?"  asked  Varus 
laughing. 

"  Thou  art  a  soldier,"  said  Dorcas,  "  and,  I 
have  heard,  an  officer  of  approved  courage  and  ex 
perience,  that  hath  borne  the  imperial  standard  at 
the  head  of  thy  cohorts  in  Europe,  Asia  and 
Africa.  Dost  thou  not  think,  after  all  the  wrong 
and  bloodshed  and  suffering  which  thou  must  have 
seen,  that  it  would  be  a  blessing  to  mankind,  and 
especially  to  the  common  people  of  the  world, 
upon  whom  fall  the  burdens  and  ills  of  war, 
if  there  should  never  be  war  again?  " 

'  Yea,"  answered  Varus,  "  a  measureless 
blessing,  truly!  But  that  cannot  be,  child. 
There  must  be  wars;  and  the  nation  that  would 
preserve  itself  or  govern  others,  must  be  first  in 


war." 


'  Yet  if  thine  account  of  the  Christians  be  cor 
rect,  all  wars  must  cease  if  all  men  were  to  be 
come  Christians:  and  thou  sayest  this  would  be 
a  universal  blessing!  " 


34     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

"  But  the  only  road  to  peace  lies  through  the 
fields  of  war:  only  conquest  leads  to  peace,"  said 
the  Vice-Prefect. 

"  Hast  thou  ever  been  engaged  in  any  war  in 
which  the  people  on  either  side  began  the  strug 
gle  ?  Or  is  it  true,  Vice-Prefect,  that  all  the  wars 
that  afflict  mankind  grow  out  of  the  ambitions  and 
crimes  of  rulers,  and  generally  about  things  con 
cerning  which  the  common  people  know  very  little 
and  care  less?  " 

"  That  is  true  to  a  great  extent;  but  it  is  true 
also  that  soldiers  must  fight  for  their  standards, 
and  the  law  cannot  tolerate  the  doctrine  of  '  non- 
resistance  '  which  these  accursed  Christians 
teach.  " 

"  Wilt  thou  inform  me  what  else  there  may  be 
in  the  teachings  of  this  hated  sect  that  is  contrary 
to  the  laws  and  customs  of  Rome,  besides  their 
opposition  to  bearing  arms?  " 

"  One  other  thing  in  regard  to  which  they  de 
spise  our  laws  and  customs  and  the  practice  of 
antiquity,  is  the  fact  that  they  make  it  religion  to 
abolish  slavery.  They  teach  that  no  Christian 
can  lawfully  own  a  slave,  and  that  if  any  slave  be 
comes  a  Christian  he  should  be  set  free;  so  that 
just  as  this  abominable  sect  groweth,  the  number 
of  freedmen  steadily  increaseth.  This  is  another 
one  of  those  *  extravagant  laws  and  opinions ' 
which  the  most  holy  Emperor  Galerius  denounces 


DORCAS  ASKETH  QUESTIONS  35 

in  his  Edict  of  Toleration  issued  '  to  reclaim  the 
deluded  Christians  into  the  way  of  reason  and  of 
nature.'  " 

"  I  have  had  small  opportunities  to  gain  knowl 
edge  of  all  these  matters,"  said  Dorcas. 

"  And  thou  art  the  only  maiden,  or  matron 
either,  I  have  known  that  desired  to  gain  knowl 
edge  of  any  matters  of  importance.  The  Roman 
women  are  satisfied  with  the  shameful  ignorance 
which  maketh  them  but  dreary  companions  for 
sensible  men." 

"May  I  then  learn  by  asking  thee?"  said 
Dorcas  blandly. 

"  Yea,  child,  I  admire  thee  both  because  thou 
knowest  much  already,  and  because  thou  art  eager 
to  learn  more." 

"  I  understand,"  she  said,  "  that  Roman  law 
and  custom  fosters  slavery,  and  thou  hast  in 
formed  me  that  this  hated  Christian  sect  is,  and 
has  always  been,  settled  in  its  opposition  to  slavery 
of  any  kind.  I  see  clearly,  therefore,  why  the 
Roman  slave-owners  seek  to  destroy  a  people  who 
hold  a  religion  that  condemns  the  slave  code  in 
every  line  and  section  of  it.  But,  Vice-Prefect, 
doth  thy  experience  teach  thee  that  slavery  is  a 
good  thing  in  itself?" 

"  It  hath  always  existed,"  replied  Varus.  "  It 
is  in  accordance  with  '  the  ancient  laws  and  public 
discipline  of  the  Romans,'  and  *  the  religion  and 


36     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

ceremonies  instituted  by  our  fathers,'  and  is  '  the 
practice  of  antiquity  '  even  as  the  most  holy  Em 
peror  Galerius  saith  in  the  edict  to  which  I  have 
referred;  and  these  Christians  are  impious  in  de 
spising  it  and  teaching  that  it  is  religion  to  abolish 


it." 

u 


But  is  it  a  good  thing,  Vice-Prefect? 
Wouldst  thou  prefer  to  be  a  slave  thyself?  Is  it 
good  for  any  Sive  the  masters  who  are  rich?  Is 
it,  in  the  long  iun,  good  even  for  them?  " 

:t  These  are  strange  and  perplexing  questions, 
Dorcas,  and  I  cannot  rightly  answer  them  at  this 
time.  Let  it  satisfy  thee  to  know  that  slavery  is 
the  universal  custom  of  all  peoples  in  all  ages,  and 
it  is  impious  arid  unholy  in  this  Christian  sect  to 
oppose  it." 

"  Are  there  other  matters  besides  war  and 
slavery  in  regard  to  which  these  Christians  vio 
late  the  laws  and  customs  of  the  Romans?  " 

4  Yea,  many  others,"  answered  Varus,  "  one  of 
the  most  important  of  which  is  that  they  teach 
as  religion  that  all  the  laws  and  customs  of  Rome 
which  legalize  the  superiority  of  one  man,  or 
class,  above  another,  and  which  legalize  the  right 
to  acquire,  hold  or  transmit  private  property 
rights,  are  contrary  to  the  will  of  Christ,  and 
ought  to  be  abolished.  They  teach  community 
of  property,  and  claim  to  have  practiced  this  worst 
form  of  agrarianism  for  three  hundred  years  —  an 


DORCAS  ASKETH  QUESTIONS  37 

abominable  system  which  would  destroy  all  prop 
erty  and  subvert  the  empire  and  all  government 
if  it  should  be  once  adopted." 

'  Thou  didst  inform  me,  Vice-Prefect,  that 
this  sect,  although  punished  and  outlawed  by 
many  of  the  emperors,  tolerated  by  but  few,  and 
protected  by  none,  had  spread  throughout  the  em 
pire.  Canst  thou  tell  me  whether  it  hath  prospered 
in  property  as  well  as  in  numbers?" 

*  Yea,"  answered  Varus;  "  they  hold  all  prop 
erty  in  common:  the  individual  can  own  nothing 
except  his  wearing  apparel  and  daily  supplies  for 
himself  and  family;  yet  the  Church  (which  is  the 
name  by  which  they  designate  their  illegal  and 
pernicious  communities,  each  of  which  appears 
to  be  a  distinct  and  independent  democracy)  is 
growing  more  and  more  wealthy  everywhere." 

"  Doth  it  not  seem  to  thee,  Vice-Prefect,  that  if 
the  Christian  communities,  by  this  democratic 
policy,  have  so  prospered  even  in  the  face  of  the 
proscriptions  written  against  them  in  the  imperial 
law,  that  the  same  system  would  secure  the  like 
prosperity  for  other  people  also  ?  and  that  it  would 
be  good  news  to  the  poor  if  it  were  universally 
adopted?  " 

"  Dorcas,  thou  art  the  strangest  girl  that  I  have 
ever  seen.  Thy  questions  open  up  continually 
new  and  marvelous  views  of  things  of  which  no 
Roman  woman  ever  thinks  at  all,  and  thou  art 


38     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

sometimes  hard  to  answer."  But  at  this  moment 
Marcellus  saluted  his  father  from  the  open  door, 
in  his  usual  musical,  rollicking  tone: 

"  May  I  come  in,  Vice-Prefect,  and  profit  by 
this  grand  discussion  upon  laws,  religion  and 
statesmanship?  " 

"  Come,"  said  Varus;  "  and  if  thou  wilt  listen 
to  this  young  girl  thou  wilt  have  much  to  think 
about.  This  is  my  son,  the  centurion,  Marcellus, 
and  this  is  Dorcas,  my  scribe  and  reader." 

"All  hail!"  said  Marcellus,  with  mock 
gravity.  "  Now  let  the  fair  Aspasia  resume  the 
broken  lessons." 

"  I  think,"  said  Dorcas,  rising,  "  that  the-re 
would  be  more  profit  if  I  go  to  aid  thy  mother 
with  the  work." 

''Thou  shalt  remain,  Dorcas,"  said  Varus;  and 
then  turning  to  Marcellus  he  continued:  "This 
Dorcas  hath  found,  in  transcribing  some  minutes 
of  the  criminal  report,  an  entry  of  the  punish 
ment  of  certain  malevolent  and  contumacious 
Christians,  and  hath  inquired  why  the  Roman 
laws  afflict  them;  and  upon  being  informed  that 
it  is  because  they  teach  a  religion  in  opposition 
to  war,  slavery,  social  and  political  distinctions 
between  men  and  classes  of  men,  and  all  laws  of 
private  property,  she  hath  suggested,  even  by  her 
inquiries,  whether  war  is  not  an  evil  thing  and  a 
curse  to  the  world,  and  whether  slavery  is  not  an 


DORCAS  ASKETH  QUESTIONS  39 

evil  thing,  and  whether,  if  the  Christians  prosper 
by  communism,  even  under  the  malediction  of 
the  laws,  that  system  might  not  really  be  best  for 
all  men.  What  thinkest  thou,  centurion,  of  all 
these  things?  " 

"  I  say  that  war  is  a  glorious  thing  for  all  of 
the  better  classes;  that  slavery  is  necessary  for 
their  convenience,  and  that  without  offices,  rank, 
privileges  and  private  property,  we  would  be  no 
better  than  the  plebeians;  and  that,  as  to  the  com 
mon  herd,  it  doth  not  matter  a  denarius  to  any 
sensible  man  whether  war  or  slavery  bless  or  curse 
them.  That  is  the  hard,  common-sense,  practical 
creed  of  the  respectable  classes  in  Rome,  and  I  in 
dorse  it  with  all  my  soul." 

And  Varus,  desirous  of  keeping  the  splendid 
youth  near  to  himself,  and  willing  to  call  out  more 
of  the  girl's  strange  fancies,  which  amused  and  in 
terested  him,  turned  to  her,  saying : 

"  What  answer  has  thou,  Dorcas,  for  this  dec 
lamation  of  the  centurion?  " 

But  Dorcas  answered:  "  I  have  none,  nor  do  I 
presume  to  dispute  such  matters  either  with  thee  or 
with  him,  although  by  thy  permission  I  did  ask 
thee  certain  questions. " 

"  If  thou  art  too  modest  to  advance  thine  own 
opinions,"  laughed  out  Varus,  "  ask  whatever 
thou  desirest  to  know." 

"  Wilt  thou  inform  me  whether  there  are  yet 


40     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

other  laws  and  customs  of  the  Romans  to  which 
this  Christian  sect  maintains  its  obstinate  opposi 
tion?" 

"  No  others  that  now  occur  to  me,'*  answered 
Varus,  "  except  such  as  thine  own  people  refuse 
to  obey.  They  deny  the  divinity  of  the  gods,  they 
scorn  the  idols,  they  refuse  to  adore  the  eikons,  and 
refuse  to  sacrifice,  or  even  to  visit  the  temples. 
But  the  Jews  are  like  them  in  all  these  respects." 

"Art  thou  a  Jewess,  Dorcas?"  inquired  Mar- 
cellus. 

The  young  woman  made  no  answer,  but  turned 
with  an  appealing  look  to  Varus,  who  thereupon 
spoke  as  follows: 

"  Centurion,  I  agreed  with  the  Israelite 
Epaphras,  who  brought  to  me  my  incomparable 
secretary,  that  she  should  not  be  questioned  con 
cerning  her  religion,  and  thou  must  respect  the 
terms  of  mine  agreement,  and  allow  thy  question 
to  remain  unanswered." 

"  But,"  said  Marcellus  apologetically,  "  I  did 
not  intend  to  refer  to  her  religion,  but  to  nation 
ality.  Surely,  with  those  wonderful  blue  eyes  and 
her  complexion  fairer  than  a  lily,  our  Dorcas  can 
hardly  be  a  Jewess  by  birth?  " 

"  I  think  not,"  said  Dorcas.  "  The  excellent 
Epaphras,  who  hath  been  my  guardian  from  mine 
infancy  (for  my  parents  died  before  I  can  remem 
ber  them),  hath  told  me  that  my  mother  was  the 


DORCAS  ASKETH  QUESTIONS  41 

daughter  of  a  chieftain  of  the  Cimbri,  whose  wife 
followed  him  to  Rome  when  he  was  brought 
hither  as  a  captive  from  the  regions  that  border 
on  the  far  North  Sea." 

The  young  centurion  had  all  this  time  regarded 
Dorcas  with  looks  of  undisguised  and  ardent  ad 
miration,  and  when  she  ceased  speaking  he  ex 
claimed  :  "  Dioscuri !  but  I  knew  no  Jewish  blood 
could  flow  through  the  blue  veins  that  show  so 
beautifully  beneath  her  snowy  skin!  Only  the 
frozen  North  can  yield  these  golden-haired  and 
heaven-eyed  maidens,  fairer  than  marbles  of 
Pentelicus !  "  Then,  seeing  that  the  girl  was  pain 
fully  embarrassed  by  his  gaze  and  speech  —  an 
evidence  of  native  modesty  most  new  and  invit 
ing  to  him  —  he  continued:  "The  Vice- Prefect 
hath  most  truly  said  that  the  Emperor  punishes 
this  odious  Christian  sect  because  of  their  treason 
able  opposition  to  the  military  laws,  whereby  they 
discourage  enlistments  in  the  army  and  promote 
desertions  therefrom,  and  because  of  their  abhor 
rence  of  slavery,  and  because  of  their  visionary 
and  impious  denial  of  private  property  rights,  and 
their  vain  dreams  of  a  democracy  in  which  social 
and  political  distinctions  between  men  and  classes 
shall  be  abolished;  but  we  younger  men,  who  love' 
life  and  appreciate  all  the  advantages  which  the 
benevolent  gods  of  Rome  have  provided  for  the 
patrician  youth,  hate  these  accursed  Galileans  be- 


42     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

cause  their  harsh,  ascetic  creed  condemns  as  sin 
all  the  pleasant  indulgences  which  nature  craves, 
and  denounce,  as  falsest  idols,  all  the  propitious 
gods  that  sanction  them  1  Ah,  Dorcas,  who  that 
hath  a  human  heart  would  desire  to  live  in  a 
world  where  the  service  of  glorious  Mars  is  de 
nounced  as  crime?  where  the  sacrifices  to  Venus 
are  outlawed  and  despised?  where  Bacchus,  ever 
beautiful  and  ever  young,  the  solacer  of  all  sor 
rows,  the  inciter  to  all  joys,  is  held  up  to  detesta 
tion  as  a  brutal  god?  A  malignant  superstition, 
indeed,  must  that  be  that  in  place  of  leaving  re 
morse  and  sorrow  for  the  weary  old  age  that 
loathes  life  and  all  the  good  things  of  the  world, 
seeketh  to  crucify  all  human  pleasing  desires  even 
in  the  very  hey-day  of  youth,  and  congeal  every 
fount  of  pleasure  by  the  requirements  of  its  in 
human  creed!  If  thou,  sweet  Dorcas,  hast  been 
reared  up  in  the  scarcely  less  harsh  and  unsocial 
religion  of  the  stubborn  and  ascetic  Jews,  let  no 
false  compassion  for  the  sufferings  of  these  malev 
olent  Christians  pervert  thy  heart  and  lead  thee 
astray,  but  rather  suffer  me,  thy  friend  and  ad 
mirer,  to  teach  thee  the  tender,  human,  beautiful 
religion  of  holy  Rome,  wherein  some  delightful 
divinity  shall  accept  as  devotion  every  sacred 
right  that  can  minister  to  pleasure,  and  so  recon 
cile  the  heart  to  all  the  calamities  of  fate  which 
cannot  be  avoided,  by  calling  into  delicious  exer- 


DORCAS  ASKETH  QUESTIONS          43 

else  every  faculty  of  mind  and  body  that  can  min 
ister  to  joy!  O  beautiful  Dorcas!  learn  thou  the 
true  and  beautiful  religion  of  sacred,  eternal 
Rome !  " 

"  Of  the  natural  results  of  which  thy  birth- 
night's  revelry  was  the  only  specimen  which  hath 
come  under  my  observation,"  said  Dorcas,  with 
greater  asperity  than  any  one  had  ever  heard  be 
fore  in  her  melodious  voice. 

"  And  what,  O  severe  Vestal,  was  there  wrong 
about  the  feast?  The  wine  was  good,  the  edibles 
excellent,  the  gods  propitious,  and  the  girls  sur 
passingly  pleasant  and  witty !  " 

"  And  if  thou  didst  have  a  sister,  centurion, 
couldst  thou  have  desired  to  see  her  among  those 
pleasant,  witty  girls?  If  not,  doth  it  appear  right 
to  thee  to  place  the  sisters  of  some  other  youth 
amid  such  surroundings  ?  " 

"  Dioscuri !  "  he  answered.  "  These  girls  are 
only  plebeians!  Why  dost  thou  ask  me  whether 
I  would  have  desired  to  see  my  sister  among 
these?" 

"  Because  thou  didst  send  thy  mother,  Calpha, 
to  invite  me  to  join  them;  and  if  thou  art  without 
a  law  to  teach  thee  that  this  thing  was  wrong,  thou  ' 
art  then  a  law  unto  thyself,  and  thou  oughtest  not 
to  place  a  young  girl  who  never  injured  thee,  and 
whom  thou  scarcely  knowest  where  thou  thinkest 
it  would  have  disgraced  thy  sister  to  be  found." 


44     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

The  young  man,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life, 
was  covered  with  confusion  in  the  presence  of  a 
pretty  girl,  and  hardly  knew  what  answer  to  make. 
The  idea  of  virtue  in  any  sense  except  that  of 
personal  courage  (the  Roman  signification  of  the 
word),  the  idea  of  chastity  that  loves  only  what 
things  are  pure,  and  loves  them  for  their  own 
sake  only,  was  inexplicable  to  him;  but  finally, 
with  much  embarrassment,  but  with  perfect  sin 
cerity,  he  replied: 

"  Dorcas,  in  Rome  a  line  of  conduct  that  is 
right  and  proper  to  the  patrician  class  is  impos 
sible  to  the  plebeians;  and  conduct  that  is  right 
and  proper  enough  for  the  plebeians  is  utterly 
impossible  for  the  patrician.  Only  the  odious 
and  democratic  Christians  assert  the  brotherhood 
of  man,  and  deny  the  privileges  of  rank  and 
fortune,  seeking  to  reduce  all  classes  to  one  com 
mon  level,  which  is  the  tendency  of  that  cruel 
asceticism  for  which  we  so  bitterly  hate  them. 
So  that  they  would  not  only  rob  us  of  the  pursuits 
and  pleasures  natural  to  our  age  and  rank,  but 
would  deny  the  lower  classes  those  pleasures  and 
advantages  which  they  obtain  by  our  favor,  and 
are  cruel  to  both  patrician  and  plebeian." 

The  young  girl's  pure  and  beautiful  face  grew 
very  pale,  and  a  strange  fire  gleamed  from  her 
soft,  expressive  eyes,  as  she  replied  in  low,  pene 
trating  tones : 


DORCAS  ASKETH  QUESTIONS  45 

"  I  do  not  know,  centurion,  how  it  all  may  be ; 
but,  surely,  if  these  despised  and  persecuted  Chris 
tians  have  hope  in  this  life  only,  they  must  be  of 
all  men  most  miserable.  If  they  teach  and  prac 
tice  a  self-denial  so  severe  as  thou  sayest,  do  they 
not  propose  some  glorious  compensation  for  its 
sufferings?  What  sublime  reward  do  they  offer 
to  those  whom  they  would  induce  to  accept 
their  faith,  and  so  crucify  themselves  unto  the 
world?" 

"  Nothing  that  is  tangible  or  satisfactory  — 
nothing  definite  or  sure  —  nothing  except  visionary 
promises  of  everlasting  happiness  beyond  this  life 
in  exchange  for  earthly  wretchedness." 

"  If  such  promises  are  built  upon  any  sure  and 
trustworthy  foundation,"  said  Dorcas,  "  it  seems 
to  me  that  it  would  be  the  part  of  wisdom  to  ac 
cept  them  —  life  is  so  uncertain,  fortune  so  fickle, 
pleasure  so  evanescent.  And,  indeed,  the  excel 
lent  Epaphras  hath  taught  me  that  the  great  men 
who  built  up  the  mighty  kingdoms  of  Egypt, 
Assyria,  Greece  and  Persia  (and  even  Rome, 
also)  practiced  the  very  same  temperance  and  self- 
denial  which  thou  dost  so  bitterly  condemn;  and 
that  the  prevalence  of  voluptuousness,  luxury  and 
pleasure  among  such  as  thou  hast  called  the  better 
classes  is  ever  the  precursor  of  national  disaster. 
I  know  not  whether  this  be  true,  but,  if  true,  it 
seems  to  me  that  even  for  this  transient,  earthly 


46     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

life  sobriety  is  better  than  licentiousness  for  all 
men  of  every  class." 

"  True !  true !  "  cried  out  the  Vice-Prefect. 
'  The  men  that  made  Rome  great,  and  that  acted 
their  own  parts  greatly,  were  never  drunkards, 
nor  gluttons,  nor  great  lovers  of  pleasure !  Re 
member  that,  centurion,  remember  that !  " 

Just  then  a  slave  announced  the  evening  meal, 
and  the  conversation  was  suspended  by  their  ad 
journment  to  the  great  hall,  which,  in  Roman 
dwelling-houses,  was  more  used  than  any  other 
apartment. 


CHAPTER  IV! 

IN  .WHICH   DORCAS   RUNNETH   AWAY 

CWIFTLY  and  pleasantly  passed  the  time  for 
^  Dorcas  at  the  Roman's  beautiful  villa;  and 
day  by  day  the  brave  old  Varus  became  more  and 
more  attached  to  his  young  secretary,  and  day  by 
day  she  became  more  necessary  to  his  happiness, 
not  only  as  reader  and  copyist,  but  also  as  com 
panion  and  friend.  She  was  the  first  chaste,  cul 
tivated  girl  this  patrician  soldier  had  ever  known. 
The  Roman  wife  was  emphatically  the  mistress  of 
the  house  only;  and  the  bright,  educated  women 
upon  whom,  in  earlier  life,  his  wandering  fancy 
had  been  fixed  in  temporary  devotion,  were  the 
graceful  and  accomplished  hetairae  of  Greece,  the 
coarser  but  still  attractive  women  of  Rome,  the  se 
ductive  beauties  of  Egypt,  or  female  adventurers 
from  other  provinces  of  the  vast  Empire,  who 
made  their  way  to  public  favor  and  notoriety  by 
mere  physical  perfectness,  or  by  graceful  accom 
plishments  and  mental  brightness.  The  patrician 
classes  of  the  Roman  women  were  uneducated, 
ill-treated  and  despised.  Marriage  was  a  con 
tract,  a  business  transaction  —  a  very  important 

47 


48     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

business  matter,  too  —  to  the  doing  of  which 
the  law  compelled  men  under  onerous  penalties; 
and  Varus,  having  once  transacted  this  unpleasant 
business,  had  abided  by  the  terms  of  the  contract 
(which  had  really  been  an  advantageous  one) 
with  an  exemplary  consistency  unusual  and  honor 
able  at  Rome.  His  own  daughters  had  died  be 
fore  reaching  maturity,  and,  although  he  was  a 
good  father,  he  had  never  realized  the  sentiment 
of  elevated  and  pleasant  affection  and  companion 
ship  before  Dorcas  came  to  dwell  in  his  house. 
They  had  long  and  frequent  conversations,  not 
only  upon  the  subjects  of  which  his  manuscripts 
treated,  but  upon  general  questions  of  ethics  and 
religion.  Strangely  enough,  the  girl  had  never 
avowed  openly  any  religious  convictions,  a  fact 
which  he  naturally  accounted  for  by  his  belief  that 
she  was  a  Jewess,  between  whom  and  a  Pagan 
there  could  be  found  no  common  grounds  for  com 
patibility  of  sentiments.  But  the  life  they  were 
leading  was  very  pleasant  to  both  of  them.  The 
aged  warrior  and  the  young  girl  conceived  a 
strong  friendship  for  each  other,  founded  upon 
mutual  respect  and  mutual  tolerance.  He  vastly 
admired  the  transparent  delicacy,  purity,  and  in 
telligence  of  the  chaste  young  spirit  with  which  he 
was  brought  into  daily  contact,  and  she  gladly 
honored  a  nature  so  true,  manly  and  straightfor 
ward  as  his  ever  appeared  to  be. 


DORCAS  RUNNETH  AWAY  49 

Upon  a  single  point  they  seemed  to  be  utterly 
unable  to  comprehend  each  other.  The  Vice- 
Prefect's  idea  of  right  was  that  it  consisted  of 
what  the  laws  require  one  to  do,  or  to  omit,  and 
of  whatever  was  considered  to  be  usual  and  honor 
able  in  a  Roman  of  rank.  He  could  not  compre 
hend  her  thought  that  right  exists  independently 
of  all  Roman  statutes  and  customs  —  civil,  mili 
tary  or  religious;  and  that  these  were  to  be  tried 
by  some  standard  above  and  beyond  the  reach  of 
all  Roman  jurisprudence,  civil  or  military.  She 
was  incapable  of  understanding  how  it  was  pos 
sible  that  so  good  a  man  could  be  satisfied  with 
the  doing  of  every  duty  imposed  by  law,  custom 
or  religion,  seeming  to  be  profoundly  ignorant 
of  any  higher  sense  of  obligation,  or  of  any  purer 
standard  of  ethics.  But  there  was  no  jarring  or 
discord  between  them,  and  their  discussions  com 
monly  terminated  in  an  amicable  recognition  of 
the  fact  that  some  things  which  seemed  to  be  fa 
miliar  as  household  words  to  one  were  an  unin 
telligible  jargon  to  the  other.  He  naturally  at 
tributed  it  to  the  fact  that  she  was  a  woman,  and, 
therefore,  naturally  subject  to  intellectual  hys 
terics,  or  mental  obtuseness,  as  all  other  women 
are. 

The  relations  existing  between  herself  and  the 
young  centurion  gradually  assumed  a  strange  and 
almost  indefinable  shape.  It  would  not  be  en- 


50     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

tirely  incorrect  to  say  that  he  failed  to  compre 
hend  the  passion  for  her  which  was  daily  becom 
ing  more  and  more  a  part  of  his  existence.  Any 
sentiment  of  pity  for  her  personally,  or  any  regard 
for  the  chastity  of  which  she  was  the  living  em 
bodiment,  was  beyond  the  range  of  his  experience. 
The  Roman  youth  of  his  age  and  rank  was  in 
capable  of  either  understanding  or  believing  in 
any  such  thing,  even  among  the  girls  whom  he 
might  regard  as  his  equals,  and  among  whom  he 
expected  that  he  would  some  day  be  compelled  to 
select  a  wife.  In  fact,  that  genuine  modesty 
which  loves  and  cherishes  whatever  is  pure  for 
its  own  sake,  was  incomprehensible  to  both  sexes 
in  the  higher  classes  of  that  age.  They  knew  that 
marriage  meant  a  contract  into  which  no  man  but 
an  idiot  would  enter  because  of  any  merely  senti 
mental  preference  —  a  contract  that,  however  re 
pulsive  it  might  be  and  generally  was,  ought  to 
be  justified  by  the  social  and  political  advantages 
to  be  reaped  from  it.  As  for  what  they  denomi 
nated  "  love,"  it  was  the  fashion  to  seek  it  else 
where  than  in  the  marital  relation;  and  a  Roman 
who  was  actually  in  love  with  his  wife  would  gen 
erally  have  been  an  object  of  ridicule  and  con 
temptuous  pity.  And  yet,  after  Marcellus  had 
first  met  Dorcas  with  such  boisterous  demonstra 
tions  of  his  preference  for  her,  he  had  never 
ventured  upon  any  similar  advances;  why,  he 


DORCAS  RUNNETH  AWAY  51 

could  not  have  told.  He  therefore  found  himself 
daily  becoming  more  and  more  hopelessly  en 
amored  of  a  girl  who  quietly  but  continually  be 
came  more  and  more  unapproachable  to  him.  It 
was  a  monstrous  paradox  in  his  experience,  and 
he  would  have  laughed  loud  and  mockingly  if  he 
had  discovered  any  one  of  his  associates  in  a  posi 
tion  at  once  so  inexplicable  and  so  tantalizing. 

Without  seeming  to  do  so,  she  had  carefully 
avoided  giving  him  an  opportunity  to  see  her 
alone,  and  yet,  in  the  presence  of  his  father  or 
mother,  she  had  met  him  without  a  shadow  of  em 
barrassment  and  with  unvarying  kindness.  She 
really  enjoyed  being  with  him.  He  was  certainly 
the  handsomest  young  man  she  had  ever  seen, 
and  his  rollicking  and  boisterous  manners  and  self- 
conceit  did  not  seem  to  be  much  out  of  place  in 
one  who  was  so  young,  an  only  son,  and  heir  to 
such  splendid  advantages.  He  was  so  quick,  so 
intelligent,  so  kind  and  generous,  and  of  such 
sterling  integrity  according  to  the  light  by  which 
he  walked,  that  it  was  impossible  to  be  near  him 
without  feeling  the  almost  irresistible  magnetism 
of  his  healthy,  hearty,  manly  character  and  per 
son.  And  yet  to  her  this  splendid  youth  seemed , 
maimed  and  dwarfed  in  the  immortal  part  of  him, 
and,  knowing  the  moral  deformity  which  pagan 
ism  had  produced  in  him,  in  common  with  all  the 
youth  of  his  rank  in  the  great  heathen  empire, 


52     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

she  felt  a  certain  indefinable  sense  of  pity  and 
compassion  for  the  undeveloped  spiritual  nature 
which  she  believed  must  be  inherent  in  a  physical 
and  intellectual  organization  so  robust  and  beauti 
ful.  True,  she  herself  was  but  fifteen  years  of 
age,  and  the  colder  blood  of  the  north  which 
temperately  flowed  through  her  brain  and  heart, 
had  permitted  her  swift  and  bright  intellect  to 
grow  and  blossom  wonderfully  under  the  careful 
and  life-long  tutelage  by  which  she  had  profited, 
while,  in  every  physical  sense,  she  was  little  more 
than  a  child,  at  an  age  at  which  the  warmer- 
blooded  daughters  of  Italy  were  passionate  women 
on  all  the  sensuous  sides  of  existence,  and  chil 
dren  in  all  other  things. 

The  twain  seemed  in  many  particulars  to  be 
typical  of  the  antagonistic  systems  under  which 
they  had  been  reared.  He  was  a  fit  type  of  the 
hard,  practical,  physical  life  of  splendid  Rome, 
with  its  vast  and  truthful  boastings  of  action  and 
achievement  —  she  of  another  and  utterly  differ 
ent  civilization  —  a  system  that  exalted  spiritual 
life  and  regarded  with  scorn,  or,  at  least,  with 
indifference,  all  of  the  pomp  and  splendor  of  the 
world  in  which  Rome  gloried  —  a  system  which 
boldly  taught,  in  the  very  teeth  of  all  of  the  wis 
dom  of  the  ancients,  and  all  of  the  practice  of  the 
centuries,  the  utter  injustice  of  all  class  distinctions 
and  prerogatives,  and  the  worth  and  dignity  of 


DORCAS  RUNNETH  AWAY  53 

man,  not  as  kings,  nobles,  philosophers  or  mil 
lionaires;  not  as  Romans,  Greeks,  Jews  or  bar 
barians,  but  simply  as  man  —  a  truth  unknown 
to  human  philosophy  and  statesmanship  until 
Jesus  Christ  proclaimed  it. 

Often  and  over  again  these  salient  and  irre 
concilable  differences  cropped  up  out  of  even  the 
simplest  and  most  informal  conversations,  and 
both  the  Vice-Prefect  and  the  centurion  would 
listen  with  wonder,  respect  and  interest  to  the 
young  girl,  yet  almost  a  child,  who,  quietly  and 
modestly,  but  persistently,  dared  to  maintain  that 
war,  in  which  Rome  gloried,  was  only  national 
crime  and  legalized  murder;  that  slavery,  which 
was  sanctioned  by  the  laws  and  religion  of  the 
empire  and  the  practice  of  all  ages  and  of  all 
peoples,  was  contrary  to  the  will  of  God  and  to 
the  honest,  unbiased  deliverance  of  every  man's 
consciousness;  that  all  class  distinctions  founded 
upon  accidents  of  birth,  rank  or  fortune  were  a 
wrong  to  the  people;  and  that  the  legal  right  to 
hold,  acquire  and  transmit  private  property-rights 
served  only  to  foster  inhuman  selfishness,  and  to 
give  immortality  to  fraud,  pride,  tyranny  and  in 
justice.  These  radical  opinions  were  never 
uttered  by  the  young  girl  as  if  she  had  learned 
and  repeated  from  memory  lessons  at  variance 
with  the  laws  and  usages  of  Rome,  nor  with  the 
dogmatic  air  which  characterized  the  utterances 


54     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

of  the  philosophers;  but  as  if  they  were  the  in 
spiration  of  convictions  too  profound  for  argu 
ment —  the  outpourings  of  some  hidden  but  liv 
ing  well-spring  of  feeling  and  of  thought.  This 
intellectual  and  moral  purity  and  strength  in  a 
young  and  beautiful  girl  was  something  so  new, 
strange  and  attractive  to  both  father  and  son,  that 
often  after  some  sudden,  almost  sybilline  utter 
ance  that  seemed  to  flow  spontaneously  from  the 
very  depths  of  her  pellucid  soul,  Varus  would 
say: 

"  She  hath  a  daimon,  centurion !  " 

And  Marcellus  would  answer:  "Yea,  Vice- 
Prefect  —  a  wise  and  beautiful  daimon !  " 

And  this  explanation  of  a  womanly  intelligence 
and  chastity  of  thought  and  feeling  which  was 
phenomenal  in  the  experience  of  these  two  excel 
lent  Romans,  as  it  would  have  been  in  the  experi 
ence  of  almost  all  men  of  their  rank  in  the  Im 
perial  City,  was  confirmed  to  their  minds  by  the 
strange  fact  that  Dorcas  habitually  stated  things 
in  the  form  of  questions  or  suggestions  that  cut 
down  to  the  very  tap-roots  of  polytheism,  and 
of  all  the  social  and  political  life  of  Rome. 

One  evening,  sitting  in  the  shade  of  the  trees 
(more  than  half  the  life  of  the  Romans  was 
passed  out  of  doors),  the  Vice-Prefect  was  ex 
plaining  to  Dorcas  and  Marcellus  a  plan  of  the 
great  city,  and  expatiating  upon  the  glory  and 


DORCAS  RUNNETH  AWAY  55 

greatness  of  Rome,  as  he  pointed  out  an  arch  here 
which  indicated  a  triumph  of  the  Roman  arms 
in  Britain,  that  showed  the  subjection  of  great 
warlike  tribes  in  Gaul,  and  the  other  similar  suc 
cesses  in  Germania.  Here  were  mementos  of 
victories  in  Africa,  in  Asia  —  almost  throughout 
the  world. 

"  Thus  you  perceive,"  said  Varus,  "  that  holy 
Rome,  under  the  protection  of  the  immortal  and 
favorable  gods,  hath  triumphed  over  the  nations 
of  mankind,  and  compelled  them  to  contribute 
to  her  grandeur  and  her  glory.  Centurion,  never 
forget  how  magnificent  and  glorious  is  thy  native 
Rome,  nor  how  the  benevolent  gods  have  favored 
thee  by  giving  thee  honorable  birth  and  position 
in  the  all-illustrious  empire,  nor  that  it  must  be 
the  labor  of  thy  life  to  add  to  her  renown." 

Then  said  Dorcas  quietly:  "  How  many  peo 
ple  are  in  Rome,  Vice-Prefect?" 

"  More  than  four  millions,"  answered  Varus, 
"  a  number  unequaled  by  any  city  in  the  world." 

"  And  how  many  of  them  are  slaves,  Vice-Pre 
fect?" 

"  About  two-thirds  of  them  are  slaves,"  said 
he. 

"  Then,"  said  Dorcas,  "  if  the  same  ratio  hold 
good  throughout  Italy,  dost  thou  not  think  that 
the  *  liberty  and  glory '  of  which  thou  dost  so 
fondly  boast  are  words  which  have  no  meaning  to 


56     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  Romans?  or  is  it 
true,  Vice-Prefect,  that  just  as  the  government 
of  Rome  hath  advanced  in  all  physical  power  and 
progress,  the  condition  of  the  slaves,  and  of  all 
the  poor,  hath  become  continually  harder  and  more 
hopeless;  so  that  the  grandeur  for  which  thou 
dost  magnify  thy  gods  has  been,  in  truth,  the 
pride  and  glory  of  the  few  only,  and  the  ever-in 
creasing  curse  and  burden  of  the  many?  Dost 
thou  not  think  it  had  been  better  to  have  had  less 
glory  for  the  few  who  have  a  living  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  government,  and  greater  liberty  and 
comfort  for  the  vast  multitude  upon  whom  the 
waste  and  weight  of  all  this  glory  rests,  and  none 
of  its  advantages?  " 

1  Why,  the  slaves  never  think  of  these  things," 
said  Marcellus,  "  and  if  they  did  there  would  be 
endless  servile  war." 

"  Do  the  gods  also  control  the  destinies  of  the 
slaves  and  of  the  poor?"  asked  Dorcas. 

"  Certainly !  All  men  are  under  the  immortal 
gods,"  said  Varus,  "  in  whom  we  move  and  have 
our  being." 

"  How  many  of  thy  gods  are  there?"  asked 
Dorcas. 

"  The  Flamen  of  Jupiter  cannot  answer  that  to 
thee." 

"  And  which  of  them,"  asked  Dorcas,  "  is  the 
especial  protector  of  the  slaves  and  the  poor? 


DORCAS  RUNNETH  AWAY  57 

Which  of  them  giveth  his  divine  compassion  and 
unfailing  aid  to  these  unfortunates  who  constitute 
the  great  masses  of  the  Roman  people?  What 
are  the  names  of  the  divinities  that  invite  the 
adoration  and  solicit  the  worship  of  the  slaves  and 
of  the  plebeians?  Who  more  need  divine  assist 
ance  in  proportion  as  they  are  deprived  of  all 
human  respect,  and  of  all  the  advantages  of  life? 
What  kind  divinity  stands  pledged  to  give  jus 
tice,  protection,  blessings  unto  the  plebeians  and 
slaves?" 

"  I  never  thought  of  that  before,"  answered 
Varus.  "  All  other  classes  have  their  own  pro 
tecting  gods  —  even  pirates,  panderers  and 
thieves  —  but  there  are  no  especial  divinities  for 
the  slaves  and  plebeians  as  such." 

"  Ah !  then,"  said  Dorcas,  "  it  doth  seem  to  me 
that  if  some  splendid  and  compassionate  god  should 
take  his  station  in  your  Pantheon,  and  cry  aloud 
to  these  despised  and  afflicted  people,  *  Come  unto 
Me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and 
I  will  give  you  rest!  Take  My  yoke  upon  you 
and  learn  of  Me;  for  I,  the  Divinity,  am  meek 
and  lowly  in  heart,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  unto 
your  lives;  for  My  yoke  is  easy  and  My  burden 
light ' —  it  seems  to  me  that  such  a  divinity  would 
be  loved  and  worshiped  by  the  common  people 
with  such  adoration  as  Jupiter  hath  never 
known  I  " 


58     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

"  Why,"  said  Varus,  "  thou  hast  uttered,  in  thy 
strange  and  beautiful  fancy,  almost  such  teachings 
as  the  odious  Christian  sect  ascribe  to  Jesus,  ex 
cept  that  while  they  proclaim  a  savior  for  the 
slaves  and  plebeians,  as  thou  hast  fancied,  they 
deny  the  great  gods  who  protect  the  mighty  Ro 
man  state,  and  all  that  is  respectable  therein." 

"  Dost  thou  suppose,  then,"  said  Dorcas,  "  that 
it  was  on  this  very  account  that  the  great  Em 
perors  Tiberius,  Domitian,  Trajan,  Antoninus, 
Severus,  Maximin,  Decius,  Callus,  Valerian, 
Diocletian,  and  now  Maxentius,  have  always  pur 
sued  and  punished  these  Christians?  Indeed, .  I 
have  often  heard  the  wise  and  learned  Epaphras 
declare  that  the  Pharisees  and  Scribes,  who  were 
the  rich  and  respectable  classes  of  his  countrymen, 
crucified  the  poor  and  friendless  Jesus,  because 
*  they  were  covetous,*  and  He  taught  the  com 
munion  of  saints,  which  is  community  of  property 
and  rights,  and  that  all  men  are  born  free  and 
equal,  a  gospel  for  the  poor  that  would  abolish 
slavery  and  war,  and  would  either  level  down  the 
patricians  to  an  equality  with  the  plebeians,  or 
level  upwards  and  raise  the  plebeians  to  equality 
with  the  patricians,  as  I  have  heard  thee  also  say 
these  Christians  do  still  teach." 

'*  Verily,"  answered  Varus,  "  the  Christians  do 
so  teach;  and  the  strangest  thing  to  me  is  that 
thy  questions  do  evermore  bring  up  things  in  such 


DORCAS  RUNNETH  AWAY  59 

a  curious  light  that  one  is,  for  the  moment,  almost 
compelled  to  believe  that  these  abominable  heresies 
which  would  destroy  the  empire  are  right  and 
true  and  best  for  the  multitude.  But,  much  as 
it  pleaseth  me  to  hear  thy  strange  suggestions, 
which  do  continually  provoke  the  mind  to  follow 
new  and  wonderful  lines  of  thought  that  I  have 
not  found  in  Greek  or  Roman  philosophy,  I  must 
leave  thee  now  and  go  into  the  city,  for  there  are 
impending  disturbances  that  will  require  my  pres 
ence  there  to-night.  Dorcas,  fare  thee  well. 
Centurion,  farewell." 

Then,  under  the  seductive  power  of  that  soft 
Italian  air,  the  west  still  rosy  with  the  just  sunken 
sun,  there  was  silence  between  the  young  and  beau 
tiful  couple  —  a  dangerous  silence,  in  which  the 
fond  emotions  of  all  tender  hearts  were  quickly 
brought  to  bloom  even  long  before  old  Hesiod 
sung: 

"  O  Hesperus!  thou  bringest  all  good  things!" 

"  See,  Dorcas,"  said  Marcellus,  "  how  bril 
liantly  the  star  of  evening  gleameth  even  through 
the  half-light  of  day  still  lingering  in  the  skyj 
Canst  thou  sing,  Dorcas,  that  divine  hymn  in 
which  Hesiod  celebrates  the  kind  god,  Hesperus?  " 

"  Nay,"  replied  Dorcas,  "  for  I  was  never 
taught  the  classic  melodies  of  Greece  and  Rome; 
but  I  can  sing  a  pretty  little  song  which,  Epa- 


60     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

phras  saith,  was  a  favorite  with  my  mother,  and 
which,  he  saith  also,  is  a  translation,   or  rather 
an  imitation,  of  the  Greek  poet's  sweetest  hymn." 
"  D'orcas,  sing  thou  that  song  for  me !  " 
Then  the  girl  sang,  to  a  low,  soothing  melody, 
the  following  words: 

"O  Hesperus,  that  burnest  bright 
As  gems  upon  the  brow  of  night! 
Thou  bringest  weary  toil,  oppressed 
By  labor  and  by  sorrows,  rest, 
And  sleep,  the  comforter. 

"Thou  bringest  cattle  to  the  stall; 
Sheep  to  the  fold,  men  to  the  hall; 
The  wild  bird  to  her  leafy  nest, 
The  babe  unto  the  mother's  breast, 
The  ship  to  havens  safe! 

"Thou  bringest  dew  unto  the  flowers, 
And  coolness  to  the  glowing  hours; 
To  peaceful  homes  fond  thoughts,  that  prove 
How  sweet  is  tender  human  love, 
And  confidence  and  trust! 

"  O  Hesperus !  as  thy  mellow  light 
Soothes,  blesses,  glorifies  the  night, 
So  may  our  faith  in  Him,  whose  care 
Preserves  thy  large  and  gleaming  sphere. 
Preserve  our  spirits  pure! 


DORCAS  RUNNETH  AWAY  61 

"  Raise  Thou  our  hopes  and  trust  above ! 
Shed  on  our  hearts,  like  dew,  Thy  love! 
From  sin  and  selfishness  set  free, 
Let  us,  O  Lord,  commune  with  Thee 
In  perfect  faith  and  love ! " 

"  Dorcas,  I  thank  thce.  It  is  very  beautiful," 
said  Marcellus,  drawing  closer  to  the  young  girl 
upon  the  rustic  bench  upon  which  all  three  had 
been  sitting  before  the  departure  of  Varus.  The 
centurion  gazed  into  her  beautiful  face  with  eyes 
of  infinite  tenderness  and  longing,  as  he  said,  in 
the  low  tones  of  suppressed  but  passionate  emo 
tion: 

"Why  dost  thou  always  shun  me,  Dorcas? 
During  all  the  time  thou  hast  made  thine  abode 
with  us  I  have  sought,  but  could  never  find,  an 
opportunity  to  speak  with  thee  alone;  and  even 
this  evening  I  feared  that  thou  wouldst  leave  me 
when  the  Vice-Prefect  departed,  as  thou  hast  ever 
done.  Why  art  thou  so  distant,  cruel  and  hard 
with  me?  For  if  I  were  too  bold  and  presump 
tuous  with  thee  when  we  did  first  meet,  thou 
shouldst  forgive  me,  for  I  did  not  then  know  thee, 
and  supposed  that  thou  wert  as  other  Roman, 
maidens  who  would  have  been  delighted  to  be  so 
caressed.  But,  Dorcas,  I  honor  thee  more  than 
any  woman  upon  the  earth,  and  thou  must  not  be 
so  hard  and  unfriendly." 

The  young  girl  grew  very  pale  beneath  the  sub- 


62     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

tie  fire  in  his  pleading  eyes  and  the  tender  music 
of  his  voice.  She  arose,  however,  and  in  the  act 
of  going,  said  very  kindly: 

"  Centurion,  I  have  never  been  unfriendly  to 
thee.  I  have  ever  felt  great  kindness  toward  thee : 
nevertheless  it  had  been  proper  for  me  to  have 
left  thee  as  soon  as  thy  father  departed,  and  I 
must  do  so  now.  Fare  thee  well!  " 

But  as  Dorcas  turned  away  the  young  man 
seized  her  hands,  and  with  very  gentle  but  supe 
rior  force  drew  her  back  into  the  seat  beside  him, 
saying : 

"  Nay,  Dorcas,  thou  shalt  not  leave  me  so.  I 
love  thee,  girl,  with  all  my  soul.  By  Venus  Vic- 
trix  and  all  other  gods  I  swear  that,  of  all  women 
in  the  world,  I  care  for  thee  only;  and  thou  shalt 
have  such  honor  and  devotion  of  my  heart  as  no 
other  maiden  in  all  Rome  enjoyeth  if  thou  canst 
love  me,  Dorcas.  O  dear  one,  love  me !  love  me  I 
love  me!  " 

In  an  ecstasy  of  passion  and  longing  he  threw 
his  arms  around  the  trembling  girl,  drew  her  to 
his  throbbing  heart  and  pressed  his  burning  lips 
to  hers.  It  was  a  sore  trial  for  the  youthful  girl. 
For  one  brief,  exquisite  moment  she  yielded  to 
the  imperious  power  of  love  that  submerged  her 
being  like  a  bath  of  flame,  while  all  her  heart 
yearned  for  the  affection  of  the  rare  and  glorious 
youth  who  wooed  her  with  such  passionate  devo- 


DORCAS  RUNNETH  AWAY  63 

tion.  But  instantly  the  relentless  sense  of  right 
and  of  duty  crushed  down  her  yearning  heart, 
and,  gently  disengaging  herself  from  his  passion 
ate  embrace,  she  spake  in  tones  from  which  even 
her  resolute  and  chastened  will  vainly  strove  to 
shut  out  the  vibrant  trill  of  tenderness  that  would 
make  itself  heard  in  every  syllable: 

"Nay,  nay,  centurion;  this  cannot  be!  Fare 
well,  Marcellus!  This  can  never  be!  " 

"  But  why  not,  Dorcas?  Yea,"  he  cried,  with 
all  his  soul  shining  in  his  burning  eyes,  "  thou 
dost  love  me,  Dorcas;  thou  canst  not  lie  to  me, 
thou  dearest  girl!  Thou  canst  not  gaze  into 
mine  eyes  and  say,  *  I  love  thee  not  1 '  Try  it, 
Dorcas.  Look  thou  upon  me,  and  answer  truth 
fully  from  thy  heart,  Dost  not  thou  love  me, 
'Dorcas?" 

She  had  never  learned  to  lie;  she  could  not  do 
so;  she  felt  that  the  young  man's  tender,  pleading 
voice  and  eyes  extorted  the  confession  from  her 
lips,  and,  gazing  upon  him  with  the  seriousness 
of  an  infinite  affection,  she  replied: 

"  Yea,  Marcellus,  it  is  even  true,  I  love  thee 
dearly;  I  love  thee  with  my  soul."  Then,  with 
inexpressible  sadness,  she  continued:  "  Now* 
thou  dear  Marcellus,  let  me  go  hence.  It  is  all 
over;  this  is  the  end  of  all;  I  have  told  thee  that 
it  cannot,  cannot  be.  Farewell !  " 

"  Nay,"  he  cried,  exulting  in  the  triumph  that 


64     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

had  wrung  from  her  lips  that  full  confession  of 
her  love,  and  holding  fast  her  little  hands  in  both 
of  his,  "  thou  shalt  not  go.  If  thou  dost  love 
me,  why  say  *  It  cannot  be  '  ?  By  all  the  gods  of 
Rome,  thou  shalt  be  mine !  Why  talkest  thou  so 
sadly  and  so  foolishly?  I  am  young  and  wealthy 
and  honorable,  and  I  will  devote  my  life  to  thy 
happiness.  Respect  and  love  and  every  indul 
gence  and  elegance  that  rank  and  wealth  can  yield 
thee  shall  be  thine.  Think  of  thy  hard  and  lonely 
life,  dear  Dorcas,  with  its  privations,  its  unending 
toil,  its  social  solitude  and  occlusion  from  all  that 
is  bright  and  joyous  and  beautiful  in  life !  Think 
of  the  half-servile  station  which  degradeth  thee, 
and  then  think  that  with  me  there  is  naught  the 
gods  can  give  which  thou  shalt  lack.  O  beautiful 
and  beloved  Dorcas,  if  thou  lovest  me  even  a  lit 
tle,  it  is  mere  madness  and  folly  to  say,  *  It  cannot 
be.'  Come  thou  to  me,  love !  Be  mine !  " 

"  Nay,"  said  the  girl  softly.  "  Permit  me  to 
depart,  centurion.  I  tell  thee  that  it  is  impossi 
ble.  I  do  love  thee  dearly,  and  I  hope  thou  wilt 
not  doubt  that  I  have  bestowed  upon  thee  my 
first  and  only  love,  which  shall  be  thine  forever. 
But,  much  as  I  admire  and  love  thee,  I  tell  thee 
truly  that  I  would  welcome  any  form  of  death 
rather  than  remain  with  thee  as  thou  wishest.  It 
is  impossible,  it  cannot  be.  Farewell!  " 

But    he    held    her    hands    fast,    exclaiming: 


DORCAS  RUNNETH  AWAY  65 

"  There  was  never  such  a  maiden  in  the  world 
as  thou.  Thou  lovest  me,  and  thou  knowest  that 
my  very  heart  is  thine;  and  yet  thou  dost  reject 
all  that  my  ardent  affection  is  praying  to  bestow 
upon  thee;  and  thou  preferrest  poverty  and  toil 
and  self-denial,  and  even  death  itself,  without  me, 
to  pleasure,  ease  and  elegance  in  my  loving  arms; 
and  thou  dost  starve  both  of  our  hearts  I  It  is 
most  cruel,  unnatural,  inexplicable !  I  desire  to 
know,  and  have  the  right  to  know,  the  reason, 
if  there  can  be  any  reason,  for  this  course  of  thine, 
which  every  girl  in  Rome  would  surely  censure  as 
most  unjust  and  cruel!  Or  dost  thou  wound  me 
so  bitterly  and  thine  own  heart  through  mere 
womanly  vanity  and  perverseness  without  a 
cause?" 

Then  stood  she  up  most  pale  and  resolute. 
She  knew  well  the  feelings  and  opinions  of  that 
great  Roman  world  to  which  the  youth  belonged, 
and  understood  perfectly  that  her  refusal  to  ac 
cept  as  her  lover  the  only  man  she  loved,  who 
was  so  passionately  attached  to  her,  must  seem 
to  him  to  be,  as  he  had  said,  cruel,  unnatural  and 
inexplicable.  And  so,  pressing  her  hands  upon 
her  heart  to  still  its  mighty  anguish,  she  gazed 
into  his  eyes  with  a  mournful  tenderness,  saying: 
4  Thou  dear  and  noble  Marcellus,  think  not  I 
would  refuse  thee  for  any  trivial  cause,  or  for  any 
cause  that  is  not  stronger  and  more  imperious  to 


66     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

my  soul  than  is  the  love  of  life  or  the  fear  of 
death.  Friend,  that  life  which  thou  desirest  me 
to  lead  is  to  me  unpardonable  sin  and  shame. 
Thou  canst  not  understand  it  so,  perhaps,  but  I 
deny  thee  as  I  would  do  if  the  words  should  tear 
my  heart  up  by  the  roots,  because  I  am  a  Chris 
tian/' 

Then  strange,  tumultuous  changes  swept  like 
storms  across  his  soul  and  left  their  shadows  on 
his  face.  His  first  glance  at  her  upon  her  making 
this  damning  avowal  of  her  faith  in  Christ  was 
one  of  utter  loathing  and  contempt,  as  if  she  had 
said,  "  I  am  a  leper."  But  the  girl  stood  there  so 
quiet,  submissive,  beautiful;  so  full  of  sorrow  for 
the  pain  she  had  given  him,  and  he  loved  her  so 
much  that  this  first  impulse  of  horror  quickly 
faded  out,  and  the  old,  passionate  yearning  for  her 
assumed  a  momentary  sway,  only  to  be  succeeded 
by  a  tempestuous  rage. 

"  A  Christian  I  "  he  said,  almost  gnashing  his 
teeth  in  his  convulsive  passion.  "  One  of  the  ac 
cursed  sect  that  hates  the  world.  And  thinkest 
thou,  girl,  that  I  am  weak  and  purposeless  enough 
to  suffer  the  hideous  teachings  of  this  outcast  and 
criminal  association  to  doom  thee  and  myself  to 
life-long  sorrow?  No,  Dioscuri !  No !  by  all  the 
shining  gods  of  heaven !  by  all  the  kind  and  pitiful 
daimons  that  people  earth  and  air !  by  all  the  dark 
divinities  that  reign  in  hell,  thou  shalt  be  mine !  I 


DORCAS  RUNNETH  AWAY  67 

will  reclaim  thee  from  this  baleful  superstition,  and 
bring  thee  back  into  the  way  of  reason  and  of 
nature !  Even  for  thine  own  sweet  sake,  Dorcas, 
even  by  force  if  thou  refuse,  within  this  hour  thou 
shalt  offer  sacrifice  to  Venus ;  or  I  will  summon  the 
lictors  and  have  thee  dragged  before  the  magis 
trates  and  punished,  as  thou  hast  no  doubt  heard 
the  Christian  girls  are  punished  by  the  Emperor. 
Prepare  thy  mind,  Dorcas.  I  love  thee  too  ten 
derly  to  leave  thee  in  the  power  of  this  accursed 
sect.  I  go  now  to  make  ready  fit  sacrifices  to  the 
beautiful  goddess,  and  straightway  will  return  to 
teach  thee  her  amiable  and  delightful  service ;  and 
so  reclaim  thee,  at  least,  from  this  malignant  super 
stition  of  the  Christians." 

Then  turned  he,  and  in  all  the  hurry  of  extreme 
agitation,  strode  into  the  house. 

With  clasped  hands  and  streaming  eyes  the 
young  girl  for  a  moment  stood  looking  up  into 
the  wide  and  starry  heaven,  as  if  she  hoped  to 
find  somewhere  in  its  depths  sublime  the  God  of 
the  fatherless;  then  she  sped  diagonally  across  the 
inclosure  in  front  of  the  villa  to  the  corner  of  the 
stone  wall  which  fenced  off  the  premises  from 
the  highway;  placed  her  hands  upon  the  top  of 
the  wall,  and  lightly  swung  her  agile  form  first 
to  the  top  and  thence  down  into  the  Appian  Way, 
upon  which  magnificent  Roman  road,  the  grounds 
of  Varus  fronted. 


CHAPTER  Vi 

IN  WHICH   DORCAS   HEARETH  THE   STORY 
OF   FAUSTINA 

T  IGHTLY  and  swiftly  the  maiden  Dorcas  sped 
*~*  along  the  splendid  road,  which  was  almost  de 
serted  at  that  hour  of  the  night,  looking  neither  to 
the  right  nor  to  the  left,  nor  pausing  even  a  mo 
ment  on  her  breathless  journey,  mile  after  mile, 
until  she  reached  a  point  at  which  her  way  left  the 
road  and  turned  off  abruptly  into  a  tangled  maze 
of  brambles,  underbrush  and  trees  that  marked  the 
site  of  a  former  villa,  long  since  destroyed,  and 
left  to  that  luxuriant  vegetation  which  hides  the 
rough  face  of  desolation  and  decay.  In  the  very 
heart  of  this  wild  waste  she  came  to  a  fragment 
of  ancient  stucco  work,  that  seemed  once  to  have 
constituted  part  of  the  wall  of  a  cellar  or  cistern, 
and  passing  by  this  she  found  an  opening  in  the 
side  of  the  adjacent  hill,  into  which  she  stepped 
without *a  moment's  hesitation.  Dorcas  had  trod 
den  the  same  road  every  Seventh  day  since  she 
first  went  to  the  villa  of  the  Vice-Prefect  Varus, 
and  the  utter  darkness  into  which  she  entered  now 
was  pleasant  as  one's  return  to  a  beloved  home. 

68 


THE  STORY  OF  FAUSTINA  69 

Not  far  from  the  entrance  she  groped  about 
with  her  hands  until  she  found  a  certain  stone  for 
which  she  sought,  and,  lifting  it,  she  saw  the  wel 
come  radiance  of  a  diminutive  lamp,  whose  deli 
cate  shaft  of  flame  was  always  kept  alive  in  that 
hidden  crypt;  and  by  this  lamp  she  lighted  one  of 
many  others  that  were  carefully  deposited  in  the 
same  secret  receptacle,  and  then,  having  carefully 
replaced  the  stone  in  its  proper  place,  she  took  her 
lamp  in  her  hand,  and  resumed  her  lonely  jour 
ney.  The  place  she  was  in  was  a  gallery  cut  out 
of  the  rock,  about  eight  feet  high  by  perhaps  ten 
feet  in  width,  the  length  of  which  seemed  to  be 
interminable.  Furlong  after  furlong  she  con 
tinued  on  her  way,  now  turning  into  other  galleries 
that  opened  into  that  which  she  had  first  entered, 
treading  the  labyrinth  of  the  vast  catacombs  with 
as  little  hesitation  as  if  she  had  dwelt  in  their  soli 
tude  and  darkness  all  her  life.  She  was  alone, 
except  for  the  unknown  and  countless  dead  whose 
mortal  remains  slept  peacefully  in  narrow  crypts 
cut  into  the  rocky  sides  of  the  galleries  in  irregular 
rows,  one  over  another,  like  the  windows  in  a 
dove-cote.  Dorcas  had  walked  a  long  distance, 
but  at  last  reached  a  point  where  the  walls  of  sev 
eral  intersecting  galleries  had  been  cut  away  in 
every  direction,  forming  a  room  having  capacity 
to  accommodate  even  several  hundred  people  upon 
the  wooden  benches  that  occupied  the  floor. 


70     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

There  was  also  a  low  platform  upon  the  eastern 
side  of  this  room,  with  a  small  wooden  table  upon 
it  and  a  larger  table  standing  in  front  of  it.  Such 
was  the  chapel  in  which  the  persecuted  Christians 
of  that  age  celebrated  the  ceremonies  of  their 
illegal  and  proscribed  faith. 

Having  crossed  this  primitive  chapel,  the  girl 
went  on  a  short  distance  into  another  gallery  and 
paused;  and,  having  placed  her  lamp  upon  the 
stony  floor,  she  sank  down  upon  her  knees,  and 
burst  into  an  agony  of  tears,  while  her  slight  form 
shook  with  sobs  of  passionate  sorrow,  and  her 
heart  all  vainly  sought  for  peace  in  prayer.  The 
crypt  or  sepulcher  at  which  she  kneeled  was  closed 
up  by  a  slab  of  white  marble,  upon  which  some 
loving  hand  had  cut  an  inscription  like  to  that 
shown  in  the  opening  chapter  of  this  history. 

How  long  the  young  girl  had  been  kneeling  here 
in  anguish  and  in  prayer  she  did  not  know,  but  it 
must  have  been  morning  in  the  upper  world  when, 
with  grave,  sedate  steps,  a  tall  and  handsome  man, 
somewhat  past  the  meridian  of  life,  passed  quietly 
along  the  gallery,  and  seeing  first  the  lamp-light 
and  then  the  kneeling  girl,  he  paused,  and  laying 
his  hand  lightly  upon  her  drooping  head,  spoke  in 
low  and  loving  tones  these  words : 

"  Grief,  the  refiner,  that  cometh  unto  all,  hath 
come  early  unto  thee,  my  daughter.  Remember 
thou  that  He  chasteneth  whom  He  loveth,  and 


THE  STORY  OF  FAUSTINA  71 

scourgeth  every  one  whom  He  instructeth ;  and  thou 
shouldst  lift  up  thy  soul  to  Him,  having  known, 
even  from  thine  infancy,  that  He  doeth  all  things 
well." 

"  O  Father  Epaphras,  it  is  a  sorrow  greater 
than  I  can  bear.  Even  my  prayers  rise  not,  but 
fall  back  to  the  cruel  earth  like  a  poor  bird  with 
broken  wing.  Would  to  God  that  I  had  never 
left  this  quiet  holy  place." 

"  No  chastening  for  the  present  seemeth  good, 
but  grievous  rather;  yet  afterwards  it  worketh  out 
the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness.  But  come 
thou,  Dorcas,  into  the  chapel,  and  tell  me  all  thy 


sorrow." 


Then  she  rose  up  and  meekly  followed  him; 
and,  having  set  their  lamps  upon  the  table,  they 
twain  seated  themselves  upon  a  bench,  and,  in  a 
voice  broken  repeatedly  by  sobs  of  grief,  she  told 
the  presbyter  Epaphras  of  her  recent  trouble  with 
Marcellus  without  reserve,  not  omitting  even  to 
state  the  passionate  embrace  and  kisses  he  had 
given  her,  and  her  own  transient  but  boundless  joy 
at  the  discovery  of  her  love  for  him. 

Every  Seventh  day  since  she  had  been  at  the 
villa  Dorcas  had  passed  in  the  catacombs  with 
certain  holy  women,  who  made  their  home  some 
where  in  its  vast  and  gloomy  recesses,  among 
whom,  indeed,  she  had  been  reared  and  taught; 
and  she  had  always  attended  the  services  in  the 


72  '  DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

chapel,  and,  after  services  were  over,  she  had  al 
ways  waited  to  converse  with  him,  and  had  kept 
him  informed  of  almost  every  incident  of  her  life 
while  there.  So  that  while  Epaphras  was  fully 
prepared  for  the  story  of  the  passionate  love  the 
young  centurion  had  declared  for  Dorcas,  he  was 
not  at  all  prepared  for  any  such  possibility  as  that 
Dorcas  might  reciprocate  his  love ;  for,  indeed,  the 
maiden  had  not  herself  known  it  until  that  even 
ing,  and  her  confession  thereof  filled  him  with  sor 
row  and  surprise. 

"  And  thou  lovest  this  proud  Roman,  the  enemy 
of  thy  friends  and  of  thy  Lord?  " 

1  Yea,  father,  all  my  heart  runs  out  to  him,  as 
waters  seek  the  sea!  He  is  so  good  and  noble, 
that  if  he  only  knew  the  truth  he  would  not  hesi 
tate  to  give  up  his  life  therefor!  But  alas!  alas! 
he  does  not  know !  " 

14  Thou  must  abide  here  in  the  catacombs  for  a 
long  time  to  come,"  said  Epaphras.  "  The  lib 
eral  donations  Varus  gave  to  thee  were  a  most 
welcome  contribution  to  the  treasury  of  the  church, 
that  suffereth  so  grievously  from  the  persecution 
which  Diocletian  began,  and  which  Maxentius  con- 
tinueth ;  but  if  it  were  ten  thousand  times  as  much, 
thou  shouldst  not  place  thyself  for  one  hour  in  this 
heathen's  power  to  gain  it.  Thou  shalt  remain 
here,  and  shalt  not  go  forth  again  unless  I  may 
even  find  some  other  home  for  thee.  The  Vice- 


THE  STORY  OF  FAUSTINA  73 

Prefect  Varus  is  an  honorable  man,  but  there  are 
few  like  him  in  this  heathen  Rome ;  and  thou  shalt 
go  to  none  whom  I  do  not  thoroughly  know  and 
trust.  But  thou  art  now  a  woman,  Dorcas,  and 
the  first  sorrow  of  thy  life  hath  come  upon  thee. 
It  is  fitting  that  I  tell  thee  of  thy  mother,  Faustina, 
whose  last  resting-place  thou  knowest,  and  if  thou 
wilt  take  to  heart  her  glorious  example,  thou  shalt 
be  fortified  to  overcome  the  temptations  of  the 
world,  the  devil  and  the  flesh. 

"  Thy  mother  was  the  daughter  of  the  Cim- 
brian  chieftain  Segestus,  whom  thy  grandmother, 
his  wife,  did  follow  to  Rome  when  Germanicus 
brought  him  hither  to  grace  his  triumph  after  the 
manner  of  the  Romans.  Thy  mother  was  thus 
born  in  Rome;  and  when  she  had  grown  up  to 
womanhood  in  the  faith  of  Jesus,  she  was  mar 
ried  to  the  youthful  presbyter  Eugenius.  He  was 
martyred  by  the  Jews  of  Celicia  when  on  a  jour 
ney  to  Jerusalem,  at  the  time  that  thou  wast  one 
year  old;  yet,  spite  of  earthly  sorrows,  she  gloried 
in  his  death.  A  year  after  that,  when  certain 
Christians  of  our  community  were  called  to  mar 
tyrdom  in  the  Circus  Maximus,  thy  mother  Faus 
tina  insisted  upon  going  to  witness  the  glorious' 
spectacle  and  see  for  herself  how  faith  can  tri 
umph  even  over  death.  We  did  fear  that  the 
scene  might  unduly  agitate  one  who  had  been 
physically  delicate  ever  since  the  news  of  thy  fa- 


74     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

ther's  martyrdom  had  come  to  us;  and  when  we 
found  that  she  would  not  be  dissuaded,  we  sol 
emnly  warned  her  that  the  slightest  expression  of 
sympathy  for  those  who  were  called  upon  to  suf 
fer  for  their  Lord,  or  the  slightest  condemnation 
of  those  who  persecuted  them,  might  subject  her 
to  the  like  trial  at  the  hands  of  the  jealous  Ro 
mans.  Then  she  and  other  Christians  mingled 
with  the  crowd  that  had  collected  to  witness  the 
departure  of  our  brethren  on  their  way  sublime. 
When  the  executioners  approached  their  bound 
victims  they  began  to  chant  the  glorious  words  of 
Paul,  '  O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?  O  death, 
where  is  thy  sting? '  And  almost  at  the  moment 
that  the  fatal  blows  descended  upon  them,  the 
young  mother,  standing  beside  me,  on  the  edge  of 
the  crowd,  shouted  in  a  clear,  triumphant  voice, 
whose  sweet  and  solemn  cadence  filled  the  vast 
space  around :  *  Thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth 
them  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ !  ' 
"  Almost  immediately  a  centurion  cried  out : 
*  This  woman  also  calleth  on  the  accursed  Gali 
lean  !  '  and  he  rushed  forward  to  seize  her.  Then 
said  I  unto  her :  *  Give  me  thy  child,  Faustina  !  * 
Then  the  centurion  haled  her  before  the  magis 
trates  who  had  come  to  witness  the  enforcement  of 
their  judgment,  saying:  '  This  woman  hath  now 
called  upon  God  and  Christ  here  in  the  presence  of 
the  magistrates  and  of  the  soldiers;'  and  when 


THE  STORY  OF  FAUSTINA  75 

they  questioned  her  concerning  the  same,  she 
boldly  avowed  her  faith  in  Jesus.  Then  said  the 
chief  magistrate  unto  her :  '  If  thou  wilt  lodge 
with  this  centurion  to-night,  and  in  the  morning 
make  thy  sacrifice  to  Venus,  thou  may'st  live;  if 
not,  thou  shalt  die  1 ' 

;t  Then  answered  thy  mother:  *I  prefer  the 
sword  to  the  centurion,  and  death  rather  than 
idolatry;  nor  need  thou  delay,  for  I  do  love  and 
worship  Christ  both  now  and  to-morrow.' 

:<  Then  ordered  they  the  centurion  to  lead 
Faustina  to  the  executioners,  and  as  they  were 
crossing  the  open  space  between,  I  swiftly  stepped 
forward  and  said  to  the  centurion :  *  This  is  the 
woman's  babe;  may  she  not  bid  the  child  fare 
well  ? '  Then  the  Roman  halted  them  that  were 
with  him,  and  thy  mother  did  kiss  thee,  and  did 
make  the  sign  of  the  cross  upon  thee,  and  while 
she  was  doing  this  she  turned  away  from  the  cen 
turion,  and  I  said  unto  her :  '  Faustina,  dost  thou 
desire  the  Anastasis?  J 

"  And  with  a  smile  she  answered:  *  Nay,  but 
to  depart,  and  to  be  with  Christ,  which  is  far 
better !  Care  thou  and  our  community  for  the 
babe!' 

"  Then  I  perceived  of  a  truth  that  she  had 
come  thither  in  order  to  go  hence  by  the  sacred 
way,  as  so  many  of  our  people  also  have  done, 
until  the  church  forbade  us  to  seek  for  martyrdom. 


76     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

"  And  so  she  went  forward  chanting  the  psalm 
of  victory,  and  with  a  sword  those  men  struck  off 
her  head. 

"  Thou  wilt  see  upon  her  tomb  the  Hebrew 
word  '  Shalom/  which  signifieth  peace.  Thou 
wilt  see  the  green  branch,  signifying  everlasting 
life.  Thou  will  see  the  symbol  of  martyrdom, 
and  next  to  it  the  urn,  signifying  Christian  burial. 
For  soon  as  the  night  had  fallen  certain  of  the 
brethren  with  me  bore  the  body  of  the  martyr 
hither.  The  slab  which  thou  hast  read  I  cut  out 
even  with  mine  own  hand,  and  the  inscription 
thereon.  For,  lo!  I  did  love  thy  mother  much 
and  tenderly." 

And  the  great  tears  welling  up  from  the  pres 
byter's  soft  eyes,  and  his  broken,  sobbing  voice, 
attested  the  depth  and  deathlessness  of  that  great 
love. 

"  I  have  told  thee  of  these  things  at  this  time," 
said  the  presbyter,  "  because  I  would  have  thee, 
O  daughter  of  marytrs,  cast  out  of  thy  sinless  heart 
this  love  for  the  proud  Roman !  Arise,  my  child, 
and  go  in  peace,  and  may  the  peace  of  God  go 
with  thee!  " 

Then  arose  Dorcas  meekly,  and,  bending  over 
the  presbyter,  kissed  she  his  forehead  with  mighty 
tenderness  and  reverence ;  and,  taking  up  her  lamp, 
she  passed  out  of  the  chapel,  seeking  the  more  hid- 


THE  STORY  OF  FAUSTINA  77 

den  recesses  of  the  vast  necropolis  wherein  abode 
the  holy  women. 

Then  the  presbyter  kneeled  down  and  struggled 
woefully  in  prayer,  and  at  last  the  sorrow  of  his 
burdened  heart  broke  forth  into  a  wail  of  limit 
less  anguish: 

"  O  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,"  cried  he, 
"  give  me  of  thy  strength  and  courage,  for  I  am 
desolate  and  sore  afflicted.  Thou  didst  call  the 
mother  whom  I  loved  unto  thyself  by  the  quick 
way  of  martyrdom;  and  now  the  daughter,  whom 
I  have  carried  a  lamb  in  my  bosom  all  these 
lonely  years,  this  cruel  Roman  hath  stolen  out  of 
my  yearning  heart,  and  human  nature  in  me  suffers 
more  than  death!  Impart  to  me  thine  aid 
divine !" 

Long  wrestled  he  with  that  sore  grief,  but 
peace  at  last  fell  on  him  —  peace  that  passeth  all 
understanding  —  peace  that  floweth  as  a  river  — 
and  rising  to  his  feet  once  more,  his  grand  and 
holy  face  less  lighted  by  the  little  lamp  he  bore 
than  by  the  radiance  that  beamed  forth  from  his 
pure,  exalted  soul,  the  presbyter  went  quietly  and 
gravely  on  his  way. 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE   SWADDLING-BANDS   OF  ANTI-CHRIST 

TN  the  spring  of  the  year  312,  Constantine,  who, 
-*•  after  his  father's  death,  had  been  proclaimed 
Emperor  by  the  Roman  legions  then  in  Britain, 
and  had,  after  coming  into  Gaul,  received  the 
homage  of  the  army  in  that  country,  made  his 
imperial  residence  and  army  headquarters .  at 
Lutetia.  To  him  came  deputies  from  Rome,  rep 
resenting  that  the  people  of  Italy  were  secretly 
opposed  to  the  tyrant  Maxentius,  who  then  was 
Emperor  at  Rome,  and  beseeching  him  to  come 
to  Rome  and  free  them  from  that  despotism  by  as 
suming  his  own  rightful  sovereignty  over  Italy. 

"  We  represent,  O  mighty  Constantine,  almost 
every  class  in  Italy,  and  by  far  the  greater  part  of 
the  people,  and  in  their  names  we  implore  thee  to 
march  to  the  Imperial  City,  both  because  the  peo 
ple  hate  Maxentius  and  because  of  their  great 
love  and  loyalty  to  thee." 

Constantine  the  Great,  then  in  the  bloom  and 
freshness  of  his  manhood,  was  perhaps  the  hand 
somest  Roman  that  ever  wore  the  purple,  and  also 
the  most  astute  politician  of  his  age;  a  man  fitted 

78 


THE  BANDS  OF  ANTI-CHRIST          79 

by  nature  for  the  greatest  destiny;  brave,  hardy, 
temperate,  self-poised  and  ambitious,  knowing  the 
very  hearts  of  men. 

To  these  delegates  he  replied  in  calm  and 
dignified  terms,  in  which  firmness  and  kindness 
were  equally  blended: 

"  Patricians  1  Senators !  the  message  which  ye 
have  brought,  perhaps  at  great  peril  to  your  own 
safety,  is  marvelously  gratifying  to  me,  that  desire 
only  the  glory  and  happiness  of  the  Romans.  Ye 
are,  therefore,  welcome,  both  because  of  your  own 
love  and  loyalty,  and  also  because  of  your  assur 
ances  that  ye  utter  the  suppressed  voice  of  Rome, 
and  of  all  Italy;  but  yet  I  will  deal  with  you  can 
didly,  even  as  your  loyalty  deserves. 

*  To  march  upon  Rome  under  existing  circum 
stances  would  be  only  to  bring  upon  beautiful  Italy 
the  horrors  of  a  civil  war,  and  so  harass  mine  own 
people,  and  destroy  mine  own  heritage.  This  I 
desire  to  avoid;  this  I  have  no  heart  to  do. 

"  The  love  and  loyalty  of  the  people  (which  you 
so  confidently  promise),  unorganized  and  undis 
ciplined,  is  not  a  force  that  can  avail,  either  to 
avert  the  calamities  of  war,  or  to  render  the  war 
brief  and  decisive.  The  information  I  desire,  ye 
have  not  given;  and  that  which  ye  have  brought, 
although  agreeable  news  indeed,  is  only  a  pleasing 
sentiment,  and  not  a  living  and  available  force." 

"  Most  royal  Augustus,"  said  the  spokesman  of 


8o     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

the  delegates,  "  what  information  more  than  we 
have  given  does  thy  superior  wisdom  desire?" 

"  I  wish  to  be  advised  whether  there  is  any  one 
class  of  the  Roman  people,  having  common  hopes 
and  interests  enough  to  give  them  unity  and  co 
herence  of  purpose  and  of  action,  and  organiza 
tion  enough  to  understand  and  to  work  in  unison 
for  a  common  end,  upon  whom  I  can  rely,  with 
good  hope,  that  when  the  power  of  Maxentius  is 
once  overthrown  they  can  prevent  it  from  rallying 
again.  I  will  have  no  protracted  war  in  Italy  to 
waste  the  fairest  portion  of  mine  empire  and  dis 
tress  my  loyal  people.1* 

"  Alas !  "  said  the  ambassador,  "  beautiful  Italy 
is  rent  by  factions,  and  no  such  body  of  men  as 
thou  desirest  can  anywhere  be  found.  All  those 
who  care  more  for  their  native  land  than  for  their 
own  private  schemes  for  selfish  advancement  or  re 
venge,  turn  their  eyes  to  thee,  and  will  hail  thy 
coming  with  gladness,  although  they  know  that 
the  only  road  to  peace  lies  through  the  bloody 
fields  of  civil  war." 

"  Then,"  said  Constantine,  calmly  and  deliber 
ately,  "  ye  must  organize  such  a  body.  I  will  not 
march  on  Rome  until  ye  shall  have  done  so.  But  ye 
must  accomplish  this  work  speedily,  or  I  will  seize 
upon  the  only  alternative  that  remains  to  me  —  a 
measure  so  radical  and  heroic  that  the  adoption 
thereof  will  shake  the  whole  fabric  of  the  empire 


THE  BANDS  OF  ANTI-CHRIST  81 

to  its  lowest  foundations.  So  that  ye  must  return 
and  organize  such  a  body  of  men  as  I  have  desig 
nated,  and  give  me  sure  means  to  gain  their  con 
fidence  and  aid,  or  I  will  — " 

Constantine  did  not  then  complete  the  sentence, 
but  gazed  around  the  whole  circle  of  the  delegates 
with  calm  and  searching  eyes.  Then,  after  a  long 
pause,  he  continued:  "  Or  I  will  invite  the  slaves 
to  join  my  standard  and  supply  mine  army,  and 
will  manumit  every  man  who  does  so  with  alacrity 
—  him,  and  his  family,  and  their  descendants  for 


ever.'* 


A  thrill  of  absolute  horror  passed  over  the  as 
sembly  at  this  proposal,  that  was  as  novel  as  it 
was  daring. 

Thereupon  the  Emperor  enjoined  upon  them  to 
set  out  for  Rome  on  the  next  day,  and  proceed  im 
mediately  to  organize,  in  every  city,  town  and 
hamlet,  a  body  of  men  such  as  he  had  desired;  and 
having  given  orders  for  their  proper  entertain 
ment,  he  dismissed  the  delegates  with  royal  grace 
and  dignity. 

These  delegates  at  once  perceived  that  Constan 
tine  thoroughly  comprehended  the  political  status 
of  the  empire,  and  had  determined  upon  the  course 
he  would  pursue.  The  broken  communications 
which  they  were  enabled  to  hold  with  each  other 
while  upon  the  road  did  not  enable  them  to  arrive 
at  any  satisfactory  conclusion^  and  they  finally 


82     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

agreed  that  before  passing  the  confines  of  Gaul, 
beyond  which  it  would  be  necessary  for  them  to 
separate  and  take  different  routes  to  Rome,  in  or 
der  to  escape  the  notice  of  the  officers  of  Maxen- 
tius,  they  would  meet  in  solemn  conclave,  and  de 
vote  a  day  to  the  discussion  of  the  momentous 
duties  devolved  upon  them  by  the  orders  of  Con- 
stantine;  and  to  consider  the  fearful  alternative 
which  he  would  accept  if  they  should  disregard 
the  imperial  mandate. 

The  day  came  quickly,  and,  in  a  secluded  valley 
at  the  foot  of  the  Alps,  they  met  and  called  upon 
the  oldest  and  highest  of  their  number  to  preside 
over  their  deliberations;  and  upon  taking  his  sta 
tion,  the  president  invited  every  one  to  speak  who 
had  any  counsel  to  offer  upon  the  matter  which  so 
deeply  concerned  them  and  the  Roman  State. 

During  several  hours,  one  after  another  rose, 
and,  little  by  little,  the  business  was  considered  in 
every  possible  ramification;  and  the  general  opin 
ion  seemed  to  be  settling  down  into  the  conclusion 
that  it  was  impossible  for  them,  or  any  others,  to 
organize  such  a  body  as  their  chosen  emperor  de 
sired,  without  their  attempt  to  do  so  coming  to 
the  knowledge  of  Maxentius;  and  that  the  coming 
of  such  knowledge  to  the  ear  of  that  cruel  tyrant 
would  be  the  signal  for  death  and  confiscation  unto 
all  of  them  and  all  their  friends.  They  further 
thought  that  if  Constantine  should  dare  to  issue  a 


THE  BANDS  OF  ANTI-CHRIST  83 

proclamation  of  freedom  to  the  slaves,  that  act 
would  consolidate  all  the  freemen  of  Italy  against 
him,  and  render  a  hopeful  cause  absolutely  hope 
less;  and  that  even  a  victory,  gained  by  means  so 
desperate  and  so  contrary  to  all  the  law  and  senti 
ment  of  the  empire,  would  be  worse  for  them  than 
a  defeat.  That  the  demand  of  the  Emperor  was 
unreasonable,  his  alternative  too  horrible  to  con 
template,  and  that  self-preservation  would  require 
them  to  withdraw  the  invitation  they  had  given 
him  to  march  upon  Rome,  and  endeavor  to  make 
their  peace  with  Maxentius. 

This,  perhaps,  would  have  been  the  resolution 
reached,  but  before  a  vote  could  be  taken  upon  it 
a  man  who  had  hitherto  kept  silent,  and  who,  in 
deed,  was  unknown  to  all  except  one  or  two  of 
the  delegates,  rose  and  began  to  address  them  in 
tones  so  singularly  musical  and  persuasive  that 
from  the  very  beginning  of  his  remarks  all  eyes 
were  directed  toward  him,  and  all  ears  turned  to 
catch  his  words ;  and  thus  he  spake : 

"Patricians!  Senators!  A  poor  scholar  of 
Caesarea,  that  hath  never  mingled  in  any  public 
affairs,  nor  hath  held  office  under  the  empire  — 
who,  indeed,  hath  only  joined  himself  to  your 
illustrious  company  by  the  partiality  of  personal 
friendship  in  one  of  your  number  —  would  not 
be  presumptuous  enough  to  claim  your  attention 
if  it  had  not  already  become  too  plainly  appar- 


84     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

ent  that  the  wisdom  of  those  who  have  given 
counsel  hath  failed  to  point  out  any  reasonable 
solution  of  the  difficulties  that  seem  to  hem  us  in 
on  every  side.  But,  while  inferior  in  rank,  learn 
ing,  and  intelligence,  to  even  the  least  among  you, 
his  studious  life  hath  been  devoted  to  learning  the 
history  of  nations  and  of  men;  and,  for  a  long 
time  past,  it  hath  been  his  purpose  especially  to 
investigate  and  understand  the  present  condition 
of  the  Roman  Empire.  I  am  myself  so  poor  as 
not  to  despise  the  poverty  of  others ;  so  obscure  as 
to  feel  a  deep  and  abiding  interest  in  even  the 
humbler  class  of  citizens;  so  ignorant  as  to  be 
willing  to  learn  of  all.  And,  therefore,  it  hap 
pens  that  sources  of  information  which  ye  could 
not  see  by  reason  of  your  elevation,  socially  and 
politically,  above  those  regions  of  human  life  in 
which  they  most  abound,  have  long  been  familiar 
to  my  sight  and  hearing. 

"Patricians!  Senators!  I  affirm,  from  long 
and  careful  observation,  that  there  exists  to-day 
in  Rome,  and  throughout  Italy,  a  body  of  men, 
more  numerous  than  any  one  faction  in  the  land, 
not  inferior  to  any  other  in  intelligence  and  virtue, 
comprising  some  of  every  grade  of  social  and  po 
litical  life,  but  chiefly  consisting  of  the  lower  and 
middle  classes,  all  bound  together  by  ties  com 
pared  with  which  the  military  oath  is  weaker  than 
a  rope  of  sand;  a  body  more  compactly  organized 


THE  BANDS  OF  ANTI-CHRIST          85 

than  any  legion,  possessed  of  a  common  treasury, 
possessed  of  means  of  inter-communication  more 
safe  and  speedy  than  the  postal  service  of  the  em 
pire;  a  body  of  men  whom  ye  loathe  and  despise 
only  because  ye  do  not  truly  know  them  —  I  think, 
only  because  ye  do  not  know  them  —  in  fact,  a 
secret  and  thoroughly-organized  society  within 
the  empire,  that  could,  if  it  would,  answer  the 
purposes  of  Constantine  more  perfectly  than  any 
organization  ye  could  devise  by  years  of  open, 
uninterrupted  toil.  Think  ye  it  would  be  a  work 
worth  while  to  seek  the  aid  of  this  wonderful  com 
munity  in  the  sore  straits  to  which  ye  are  now  re 
duced?" 

Having  so  spoken  the  orator  sat  down,  and  im 
mediately  there  was  a  great  clamor,  some  crying, 
"  Who  is  he?  Who  is  the  orator?"  and  others, 
"  Who  are  those  men  —  the  strange  community 
of  which  he  speaks?  " 

But  the  speaker  sat  silent  and  apparently  un 
conscious  of  the  tumult  which  his  words  had 
caused,  until  the  clamor  wore  itself  out,  and  the 
president  courteously  arose,  saying: 

"  The  assembled  delegates  desire  to  know  who 
is  this  able  and  learned  orator,  and  the  name  of 
that  mysterious  community  to  which  he  hath  re 
ferred.  Will  the  orator  be  kind  enough  to  an 
swer  these  requests?  " 


86      DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

Then  rose  up  the  same  man  again,  and  in  a 
quiet  and  dignified  manner  responded: 

"  I  am  the  poor  scholar  Eusebius,  of  Caesarea, 
and  the  community  of  which  I  spoke  is  the  Church 
of  Jesus  Christ  —  a  people  known  and  detested 
by  the  name  of  Christians." 

A  murmur  of  surprise,  almost  of  indignation 
and  contempt,  ran  through  the  whole  assembly, 
and  it  seemed  uncertain  how  this  information 
would  be  received.  Then  a  sour-faced,  tall  pa 
trician  rose,  and  in  cynical  tones  addressed  the  del 
egates  : 

;<  This  head  is  mine,  but  the  most  holy  Em 
peror  Maxentius  wants  it.  I  have  some  houses 
in  Rome,  some  villas  on  the  Arno,  some  estates  in 
Spain,  and  the  emperor  wanteth  these  also.  If 
he  take  off  this  head,  the  rest  is  his  by  law.  Have 
ye  also  some  heads?  some  houses?  some  villas? 
some  estates?  I  am  ready  to  take  any  road  to 
save  my  head  and  my  estates,  even  to  setting  free 
my  thousand  slaves;  but  slaves  are  property  — 
Christians  are  not.  I  therefore  say,  better  the 
Christians  than  the  slaves!  All  that  I  know  of 
this  mysterious  people  leads  me  to  give  entire  cre 
dence  to  the  statement  ye  have  heard  as  to  the 
numbers  and  organization  of  their  communities. 
But  the  orator  hath  said  that  they  could  give  the 
Emperor  all  the  aid  he  needs  if  they  would.  That 
sounds  strange,  indeed!  Surely  if  this  supposed 


THE  BANDS  OF  ANTI-CHRIST  87 

criminal  association,  that  hath  been  pursued  and 
punished  for  three  centuries,  were  promised  pro 
tection  for  the  future,  they  ought  gladly  to  prom 
ise,  and  to  give  their  aid,  their  very  lives,  if  need 
be,  to  the  Emperor!  For  mine  own  part,  I  am 
ready  to  advocate  a  law  allowing  them  to  build 
a  temple  on  the  Capitoline  Hill,  and  raise  Christ's 
statue  in  the  Pantheon,  if  they  can  give  us  such 
indispensable  assistance.  Surely  a  god  the  more 
or  less  in  Rome  is  a  matter  of  much  smaller  con 
sequence  to  men  of  brains  than  are  the  lives  and 
property  of  all  of  us  and  thousands  more,  who 
hope  no  good  thing  of  Maxentius.  I  therefore 
say  again:  Better  the  Christians  than  the 
slaves!" 

And  this  remark  seemed  to  be  caught  as  a  key 
note  that  gave  direction  to  the  sentiment  of  all, 
and  soon  there  was  a  unanimous  cry  of:  "  Better 
the  Christians  than  the  slaves !  " 

Thereupon  many  expressed  a  desire  to  hear 
Eusebius  declare  his  opinion  as  to  how  and  upon 
what  terms  the  aid  of  the  Christians  might  be 
secured,  and,  at  their  solicitation,  he  rose  once 
more. 

"Patricians!  Senators!  From  long  and  care 
ful  study  and  observation  of  the  Christian  com 
munity  (or,  rather  communities,  for  each  congre 
gation  seems  to  constitute  an  independent  democ 
racy)  ,  I  am  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  a  work  of 


88     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

great  difficulty  and  delicacy  to  induce  them  to  take 
sides  with  the  emperor,  or  take  sides  at  all,  in 
the  impending  war;  but  I  have  no  hesitation  in 
saying  that,  if  they  can  be  led  to  do  so,  the  over 
whelming  weight  of  their  numbers  and  influence 
would  reduce  the  whole  war  to  one  single  battle, 
which  would,  of  course,  be  necessary  to  destroy 
the  army  of  the  Emperor  Maxentius;  for,  if  de 
feated,  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  raise 
another  force.  The  difficulties  in  the  way  are 
very  great,  and  arise  out  of  the  fact  that  the  re 
ligion,  to  which  they  cling  with  a  steadfast  and 
immovable  tenacity  that  despises  tortures  and 
death,  is,  in  some  remarkable  particulars,  directly 
in  conflict  with  the  laws  and  customs  of  the  em 
pire.  Christianity  is  a  pure,  unmixed  democracy, 
based  upon  faith.  This  religion  absolutely  for 
bids  them  to  bear  arms,  and  their  history  shows 
that  during  three  hundred  years  no  body  of  Chris 
tians  has  undertaken  to  defend  itself  against 
even  the  grossest  injustice,  and  no  individual  Chris 
tian  hath  ever  raised  a  weapon,  even  in  defense 
of  the  religion  for  which  he  would  not  hesitate 
to  die.  They  are  also  forbidden  by  their  religion 
to  own  a  slave;  and  from  this  fact  it  happens  that 
the  number  of  the  freemen  is  so  rapidly  increas 
ing  everywhere.  The  religion  also  forbids  them 
to  acquire,  hold,  or  transmit,  any  private  property 


THE  BANDS  OF  ANTI-CHRIST          89 

beyond  their  daily  bread,  and  they  include  in  the 
term  *  property  '  not  only  estates  real  and  per 
sonal,  but  also  offices,  prerogatives  and  privileges 
of  birth  or  rank.  They  hold  their  property  in 
common,  and  regard  all  laws  which  recognize 
private  rights  as  Mammon- worship  —  the  most 
wicked  and  abominable  crime.  They  also  regard 
marriage  as  a  sacrament  of  religion,  and  considei* 
the  Roman  laws  of  divorce  as  sinful  and  invalid. 
The  whole  purpose  of  their  strange  faith  and  prac 
tice  for  three  hundred  years  hath  been  to  secure 
the  absolute  fraternity  of  all  who  believe,  to  ab 
rogate  all  social  and  political  distinctions  between 
man  and  man,  and  between  different  classes  of 
men,  making  the  family  the  sole  basis,  and  the 
church  the  sole  superstructure,  of  society.  To  a 
community  organized  upon  such  principles  as 
these,  the  observance  of  which  is  secured  beyond 
the  reach  of  human  statutes  or  customs  by  their 
unwavering  faith  in  future  rewards  and  punish 
ments,  any  alliance  with  a  mighty  empire,  the 
whole  social  and  political  life  of  which  is  founded 
upon  war,  slavery,  imperialism,  aristocracy  and 
property  rights,  would,  at  first  blush,  seem  to  be 
gross  and  unpardonable  sacrilege.  Yet,  by  cau 
tious  management,  it  might  be  arranged.  I  think 
that  it  might  be  arranged;  and  I  would  pledge 
my  life  that,  if  it  can  be  done,  the  Emperor  Con- 


90     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

stantine  can  secure  all  the  aid,  in  men  and  in  re 
sources  of  every  kind,  that  he  can  possibly  re 
quire." 

After  some  further  discussion  and  inquiry,  it 
was  agreed  upon  that  some  of  them  should  return 
at  once  to  Lutetia  and  communicate  to  the  Em 
peror  the  facts  imparted  by  Eusebius,  and  that 
the  others  should  prosecute  their  journey  to  Rome, 
and  open  up  communication  with  the  Christians 
—  a  task  which  Eusebius  undertook  to  facilitate, 
saying  that  he  knew  some  among  them  even  inti 
mately  well,  and  had  such  access  to  them  as  would 
enable  him  to  maintain  constant  intercourse  be 
tween  them  and  the  patricians  and  Senators  who 
desired  to  win  them  over  to  the  Emperor. 


CHAPTER  VII 

WHICH   SHOWETH    HOW  MARCELLUS   CON 
DUCTED   HIMSELF 

TT7HEN  the  centurion  turned  away  from  Dor- 
"  cas  and  hurried  into  the  house,  he  had  no 
misgiving  as  to  the  wisdom  and  propriety  of  the 
course  which  he  had  sworn  to  pursue,  and  being 
very  thoroughly  persuaded  in  his  own  mind  that 
not  only  his  own  wishes,  but  also  every  dictate 
of  reason,  of  humanity,  and  of  affectionate  re 
gard  for  the  beautiful  maiden,  required  him  to 
snatch  her  away,  by  force  if  need  be,  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  odious  and  malignant  Christians, 
compel  her  to  sacrifice  to  Venus,  and  so  place  her 
beyond  the  reach  of  that  atheistic  and  abominable 
sect.  He  doubted  not  that  this  was  the  wisest 
and  best  course  for  both  of  them;  and  his  resolu 
tion  to  rescue  the  dear  and  beautiful  girl  from  the 
pernicious  influence  of  that  blighting  superstition 
was  sustained  both  by  the  zeal  of  a  missionary 
and  by  the  passion  of  a  lover.  He,  therefore, 
quickly  prepared  the  poppy,  the  doves,  and  the 
myrtle  and  roses,  which  were  customarily  used  in 


92     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

making  sacrifices  to  the  foam-born  goddess,  and, 
having  very  quickly  arranged  all  things  to  his  own 
satisfaction,  he  hastened  back  to  the  spot  at  which 
he  had  left  Dorcas  but  a  few  minutes  before,  and 
was  overwhelmed  with  astonishment  when  he 
found  that  she  had  disappeared.  Then  he  called 
her:  "  Dorcas!  Dorcas  1  "  Called  more  loudly: 
"  Dorcas!  Dorcas!  Dorcas!  "  Called  with  might 
and  main:  "Dorcas!  Dorcas!  Dorcas!"  until 
the  clear,  powerful,  resonant  cry  rang  out  over  the 
whole  villa,  and  summoned  the  domestics  even 
from  the  inmost  recesses  of  the  house;  but  still 
no  answer  came.  Then  to  the  thronging  slaves 
whom  his  ringing  voice  had  speedily  collected,  he 
said: 

;<  The  maiden  Dorcas,  whom  I  left  here  but  a 
few  minutes  ago,  hath  strangely  disappeared. 
Either  she  hath  fled,  or  hath  been  abducted. 
Haste,  all  ye,  in  different  directions,  and  seek  and 
find  her!" 

But  their  search  was  futile.  One  by  one,  until 
far  into  the  night,  weary  and  disheartened,  the 
slaves  returned,  and  as  they  severally  came  home, 
the  young  centurion  questioned  each,  and  elicited 
every  fact  and  conjecture  gathered  in  the  progress 
of  the  search,  and  then  dismissed  that  one  and 
waited  impatiently  for  another.  From  all  of  these 
reports  together  the  unhappy  youth  reached  the 
conclusion  that  Dorcas  had  fled  along  the  Appian 


MARCELLUS'  CONDUCT  93 

Way  from  the  city  and  the  villa,  and  that  pursuit 
for  the  present  would  be  unavailing.  He  doubted 
not  that  she  had  gone  to  place  herself  under  the 
protection  of  some  secret  congregation  of  the 
hated  Christians;  and  her  declaration  that  she  was 
one  of  that  strange  and  impious  sect  explained  to 
him  her  absence  every  Seventh  day,  a  fact  which 
both  he  and  Varus  had  accounted  for  by  their  be 
lief  that  she  was  accustomed  to  visit  some  syna 
gogue  of  the  Jews. 

Hour  after  hour  the  restless  and  unhappy 
youth  strode  back  and  forth  along  the  gravel  walks 
until  the  dawn  came  stealing  up  the  east,  but  no 
reflection  served  to  quiet  him,  and  no  resolve 
seemed  stable  and  reasonable  enough  for  his  mind 
to  fix  upon  it,  so  that  he  could  not  determine  what 
to  do.  The  sudden  breaking  off  of  his  pleasant 
association  with  Dorcas,  that  had  been  for  months 
the  chief  source  of  his  happiness,  was  worse  than 
death.  Only  when  he  knew  that  she  was  gone  — 
perhaps  forever —  did  he  fully  realize  how  tyran 
nous  a  hold  his  love  for  her  had  taken  on  his 
heart  and  brain.  He  felt  that  if  she  had  died 
beside  him  he  could  have  endured  the  loss  of  her 
better  that  way,  than  to  think  of  her  still  living, 
but  not  for  him;  still  living,  but  beyond  his  reach; 
still  living,  but  taught  and  trained  to  hate  him  by 
the  secret  and  dreaded  influence  of  the  terrible 
superstition  of  the  Christians  —  a  demoniac  creed 


94     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

that  outlawed  human  love,  and  hated  all  man 
kind! 

"  She  would  be  mine  own  gladly  and  lovingly," 
he  said,  "  but  for  the  influence  of  that  fearful  and 
inhuman  creed." 

"  There  is  none  like  her,"  he  sobbed  in  his  great 
anguish.  ;<  There  is  none  like  her;  no,  not  one  I 
I  cannot  live  without  thee,  Dorcas;  or,  if  I  exist, 
life  will  be  so  lonely,  maimed,  and  wretched,  that 
death  would  be  a  welcome  refuge.  Come  back 
to  me,  Dorcas;  oh,  come  back!  " 

Then  fiercer  thoughts  would  seize  his  heart,  and 
he  would  vent  his  bitter  wrath  against  the 
hated  Christians,  "  the  enemies  of  the  human 
race,"  "  a  cruel,  malevolent  and  criminal  associa 
tion,"  "  that  had  renounced  the  religion  and  cere 
monies  instituted  by  our  fathers,"  that  "  had 
abandoned  the  way  of  reason  and  of  nature,"  out 
lawing  the  divine  love  which  the  kind  and  gentle 
gods  of  Rome  had  planted  in  the  human  heart  to 
compensate  for  the  stings  of  adverse  fate  and  beau 
tify  our  earthly  life. 

A  thousand  impracticable  schemes  chased  each 
other  through  his  perturbed  spirit  and  yielded  no 
satisfying  result,  until,  outworn  with  anxiety  and 
grief,  he  threw  himself  upon  his  couch  and  for  sev 
eral  hours  forgot  his  wretchedness  in  sleep.  Re 
freshed  and  calmed  by  his  brief  but  dreamless  slum 
ber,  he  arose,  and  quietly  started  off  on  foot  along 


MARCELLUS'  CONDUCT  95 

the  Appian  Way.  By  minute  and  systematic,  yet 
seemingly  careless,  inquiries  of  those  whom  he  met 
or  saw  in  the  adjacent  gardens,  orchards  and  fields, 
some  of  whom  had  often  seen  the  beautiful  young 
girl  tripping  along  the  road,  and  by  comparing 
the  information  thus  elicited  with  facts  already 
within  his  knowledge,  Marcellus  reached  two  very 
definite  conclusions  —  first,  that  the  Seventh-day 
journeys  habitually  made  by  Dorcas  did  not  ex 
tend  beyond  a  certain  ruin,  because  beyond  that 
point  no  one  remembered  to  have  even  seen  the 
girl;  that  at  this  point  the  young  girl  had  been 
accustomed  to  leave  the  highway  in  the  direction 
of  a  range  of  hills  under  which  the  abandoned 
villa  had  been  situated,  because  upon  the  other 
side  were  cultivated  lands,  through  which  she  could 
not  have  gone  every  week  for  a  year  or  more 
without  being  seen  or  known.  This  was  not  much, 
he  thought,  but  it  was  something.  He  knew,  that 
after  leaving  the  Appian  Way,  Dorcas  must  have 
plunged  at  once  into  that  tangled  maze  of  un 
derbrush,  brambles,  vines  running  wild  upon  the 
untrimmed  trees,  and  all  the  luxuriant  vegetation 
which  in  that  semi-tropical  climate  soon  conceals 
the  harsher  features  of  ruin  and  decay.  This 
much  his  unflagging  search  had  yielded  him,  and 
at  nightfall  he  turned  his  footsteps  homeward,  re 
solved  that  upon  the  following  morning  he  would 
explore  the  waste,  and  that  not  even  the  slightest 


96     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

trace  by  which  it  might  be  possible  to  follow  Dor 
cas  should  escape  his  anxious  eyes. 

On  the  next  day,  and  the  next,  and  day  after 
day  for  more  than  a  month,  he  spent  in  that  soli 
tude  every  hour  that  he  could  spare  from  necessary 
duties,  exploring  the  grounds  foot  by  foot  until  he 
could  recognize,  like  the  faces  of  familiar  friends, 
every  tree  and  vine  and  shrub,  and  even  the  most 
minute  and  indistinguishable  features  of  the  earth 
and  of  its  various  growths;  but  nothing  came  of  it. 
He  was  discouraged,  almost  hopeless,  but  deter 
mined  never  to  relinquish  the  search  until  he  had 
discovered  Dorcas,  or  had  learned  whither  she 
had  gone. 

The  youth  grew  thin  and  haggard  with  this  un 
remitting  anxiety  and  grief.  His  looks  and  move 
ments  became  nervous  —  almost  jerky;  he  lost 
the  calm,  self-poised  grace  and  dignity  which 
characterizes  the  officers  of  a  Roman  Legion,  and 
the  men  of  action  of  every  race  and  clime,  so  that 
no  busy  dreamer,  whose  mind  wears  out  his  body, 
could  have  his  physical  beauty  more  greatly 
marred. 

The  Vice-Prefect  Varus  had  been  troubled  and 
annoyed  beyond  measure  by  the  abrupt  disappear 
ance  of  his  beautiful  and  accomplished  assistant, 
and  he  had  elicited  from  the  young  centurion,  by 
persistent  questioning,  nearly  all  that  had  occurred 
between  himself  and  Dorcas.  Of  course  he  con- 


MARCELLUS'  CONDUCT  97 

demned  the  maiden  as  one  deluded  by  the  malevo 
lent  superstition  of  the  Christians,  blinded  to  her 
own  good  and  to  all  that  pertained  thereto,  and 
insensible  to  the  right  and  duties  which  she  owed 
to  himself  and  to  his  only  son,  and  his  bitter  hatred 
towards  that  odious  sect  grew  stronger  and  more 
unrelenting  as  he  daily  marked  the  havoc  which 
disappointment  was  making  in  the  health  and 
spirits  of  his  son.  He  would  not  have  hesitated 
to  set  the  whole  police  force  of  the  city  upon  her 
track,  nor,  if  she  had  been  found,  would  he  have 
hesitated  to  deliver  her  up,  bound  hand  and  foot, 
to  the  centurion;  but  he  knew  that  it  was  almost 
useless,  in  any  case,  to  pursue  a  Christian  who  had 
fled  in  order  to  escape  the  vengeance  of  the  Roman 
laws,  it  being  well  established  by  his  own  experi 
ence  and  by  the  traditions  and  official  records  of 
his  office  that  any  Christian  who  wanted  to  do 
so  could  disappear  as  effectually  as  if  the  earth 
had  opened  and  had  swallowed  him  up,  never  to 
be  recaptured,  except  by  merest  accident.  Those 
who  believed  everything  attributed  this  well-known 
fact  to  witch-craft  and  "  the  strong  magic  "  of  the 
sect;  those  who  believed  nothing  accounted  for  it 
by  the  conjecture  that  the  Christians  had  a  per 
fect,  secret  organization  among  themselves,  and 
hiding  places  unknown  to,  and  undiscoverable  by, 
the  Roman  authorities.  Varus,  therefore,  thought 
that  it  would  be  not  only  a  waste  of  time,  but  also 


98      DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

a  great  annoyance,  involving  an  injurious  notoriety 
for  the  young  centurion,  to  institute  an  official 
search  for  the  missing  maiden.  In  this  opinion 
Marcellus  fully  coincided;  but  he  would  not  aban 
don  either  the  hope  he  cherished  of  some  day 
finding  Dorcas  nor  the  ceaseless  effort  he  was  mak 
ing  for  that  purpose. 

In  vain  the  Vice-Prefect  brought  to  bear  upon 
him  all  the  wise  suggestions  of  his  own  philoso 
phy;  in  vain  he  contrived  to  engage  the  young 
man  in  extra  military  duties  and  ever-changing 
amusements,  seeking  to  rouse  his  interest  in  his 
profession,  or  to  get  him  committed  to  licentious 
pleasures;  nothing  could  wean  him  from  his  love 
for  Dorcas,  nor  from  his  determination  to  dis 
cover  her  again;  and  the  Vice- Prefect,  finally  re 
alizing  the  fact  that  a  great,  strong,  earnest  na 
ture  absorbed  by  any  master  passion  soon  passes 
beyond  the  reach  of  all  philosophical  treatises, 
and  calmly  sacrifices  even  its  own  lusts,  ambitions 
and  vanities,  left  the  young  man  to  his  own  re 
sources,  hoping  that  with  the  lapse  of  time,  the 
buoyancy  of  youth  would  cure  him  of  a  seemingly 
fatal  passion. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

JUSTICE  TO  A  CHRISTIAN  AFTER  THE   HIGH 
ROMAN   FASHION 

TTEART-SORE,  disconsolate,  indifferent  to  all 
his  usual  pleasures  and  pursuits,  the  young 
centurion  was  one  day  wandering  about  the  head 
quarters  of  the  Prefect  of  the  city,  which  was  the 
usual  place  for  the  administration  of  justice. 
While  he  was  lounging  listlessly  about,  seeking 
some  way  "  to  kill  time,"  his  attention  was  en 
listed  by  hearing  the  Vice-Prefect  who  that  day 
sat  for  the  trial  of  criminals,  order  the  lictors  "  to 
bring  forth  the  Christian." 

He  followed  the  lictors  into  the  hall,  and  saw 
them  place  in  the  prisoner's  dock  the  Christian  who 
had  just  been  brought  up  for  examination;  and 
Marcellus  listened  to  the  proceedings,  because  he 
had  nothing  else  to  do  and  was  aweary  of  the 
world. 

"What  is  thy  name?"  asked  the  Vice-Prefect 
of  the  prisoner. 

"  My  name  is  Lucanius." 

"  Thine  age." 

"  Forty  years." 

99 


ioo     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

4  Thy  place  of  residence?  " 

"  Near  Rome,  beyond  the  Tiber." 

"  Thine  occupation?  " 

"  I  am  a  dresser  of  vines  and  a  gardener." 

"  Thou  art  brought  before  me  charged  with  the 
crime  of  being  a  Christian.  Dost  thou  compre 
hend  the  nature  of  the  accusation?" 

"  I  believe  I  do  so  fully." 

"  Art  thou  guilty  or  not  guilty?  " 

"  I  am  a  Christian,  but  am  not  guilty." 

'*  Thou  art  accused  of  belonging  to  the  infamous 
and  pestilent  sect,  the  vile  and  criminal  associa 
tion,  denominated  Christians ;  what  plea  dost  thou 
make  for  thyself?" 

"  Most  honorable  Roman,  I  do  not  know  of 
any  vile  or  criminal  association  whatever.  I  am 
verily  a  Christian,  but  I  have  done  no  crime.  Is 
there  any  such  thing  as  murder,  robbery,  larceny, 
lying,  cheating  or  fraud,  or  any  immoral  or  un 
worthy  conduct,  charged  against  me  by  any  one? 
If  so,  I  plead  not  guilty.  I  am  a  Christian,  but 
have  violated  no  law  of  the  city  or  of  the  em 
pire!" 

"  Stretch  forth  thy  right  hand,"  said  the  Vice- 
Prefect. 

Lucanius  did  so,  and  it  was  manifest  that  the 
thumb  of  his  right  hand  had  been  amputated. 

"  So,"  cried  the  officer,  "  thou  art  one  of  the 
'Thumbless!'  Where  is  thy  thumb?  Didst 


AFTER  THE  HIGH  ROMAN  FASHION     toi 

thou  not  cut  off  thy  thumb  in  order  to  avoid  mili 
tary  service  due  to  the  most  holy  emperor  (as  so 
many  of  the  same  pusillanimous  and  pernicious 
sect  have  done)  ?  And  yet  thou  sayest  that  '  thou 
has  violated  no  law  of  the  empire !  ' 

"  Verily,"  answered  Lucanius,  "  I  did  ampu 
tate  this  thumb  in  order  to  avoid  military  service ; 
for  the  law  of  Christ  doth  not  suffer  a  Christian 
to  bear  arms.  But  the  Roman  law  does  not  require 
a  thumbless  man  to  bear  arms,  so  that  this  thing, 
done  for  conscience'  sake  long  years  ago,  is  not  a 
violation  of  the  law." 

"  Art  thou  a  Roman,  and  yet  dost  not  know 
that  the  first  duty  of  a  Roman  is  to  bear  arms  in 
behalf  of  his  country?  Or  art  thou  a  coward 
and  a  slave  thus  ignominiously  to  maim  thyself?  " 

4  There  was  no  law  forbidding  any  Roman  to 
cut  off  his  thumb  if  he  had  cause  to  do  so,  and  I 
had  good  cause  enough." 

"  I  asked  thee  art  thou  a  coward?  Art  thou 
afraid?"  said  the  Vice- Prefect  angrily. 

Then  said  the  Christian  mildly:  "  Most  hon 
orable  Roman,  I  do  not  think  that  I  would  be 
afraid  to  die,  but  I  would  be  afraid  to  put  an 
other  man  to  death.  l  Thou  shalt  not  kill,'  is  the 
law  of  God;  and  the  fact  that  an  emperor,  or  some 
other  man,  might  order  me  to  perpetrate  the  crime, 
can  furnish  no  excuse  for  my  conscience.  I  might 
face  death,  perhaps,  as  quietly  as  other  men  do 


102      DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

—  for  personal  courage  is  the  lowest  and  common 
est  virtue  of  mankind,  if  it  be  a  virtue  —  but  I 
would  not  inflict  death  or  wounds  on  any  man  that 
lives." 

"  So,  so ! "  murmured  the  Vice-Prefect. 
4  These  Christians  will  not  fight,  not  even  to  de 
fend  themselves  against  injustice;  not  even  in  de 
fense  of  the  superstition  for  which  they  do  not  fear 
to  die !  " 

Then  in  a  louder  tone  he  continued:  "  Dost 
thou  know  the  edict  of  the  most  holy  Emperor 
Maxentius  concerning  the  odious  Christians?" 

"  Yea,"  said  Lucanius,  "  I  have  heard  the 
law!" 

"  And  thou  knowest  that  the  law  requires  me 
to  put  thee  to  torture  until  thou  deny  this  Christ 
and  burn  incense  to  some  god  of  Rome;  or  until 
thou  confess  the  secret  purposes  and  designs  of 
this  accursed  and  criminal  association,  which  have 
hitherto  baffled  all  inquiry  of  the  government; 
or  until  I  am  satisfied  that  thou  art  hopelessly  ob 
durate  and  blinded  by  this  pernicious  superstition." 
'  Yea,"  answered  the  Christian  calmly,  "  such, 
indeed,  do  I  suppose  to  be  thy  duty  and  thy  pur 
pose  ;  nor  do  I  blame  thee,  noble  Roman,  although 
I  would  that  the  law  were  not  so  cruel  and  unjust. 
Let  me  solemnly  declare  unto  thee  (as  I  suppose 
others  have  often  done  before)  that  the  only  rea 
son  the  government  hath  always  failed,  and  must 


AFTER  THE  HIGH  ROMAN  FASHION     103 

always  fail,  to  discover  any  secret,  criminal  pur 
pose  or  design  of  the  Christian  communities,  is 
because  they  have  no  such  design  or  purpose. 
There  is  nothing  secret  in  Christianity,  except  that 
so  long  as  we  are  persecuted  by  the  law  we  hold 
it  as  a  matter  of  conscience  and  of  brotherly  love 
not  to  betray  the  brethren." 

"  I  have  heard  all  that  before,"  said  the  Vice- 
Prefect  harshly.  ;<  Thou  knowest  the  law;  wilt 
thou  now  curse  this  Christ,  and  burn  incense  to 
Jupiter,  without  the  torture,  and  so  save  thyself 
intolerable  pain?  " 

"Nay!"  said  Lucanius  quietly;  "not  for  any 
tortures  that  thou  canst  inflict,  God  helping  me!  " 

"  Take  him,  lictors !  With  the  thumb-screws 
crush  ye  the  remaining  fingers  of  the  hand  which 
he  hath  mutilated,  one  after  the  other,  and  report 
thou  to  me  his  behavior!  " 

Then  seized  they  him,  and  hurried  him  into  an 
adjoining  chamber,  whence  soon  came  the  moan- 
ings  of  intolerable  anguish  shuddering  through 
the  hall.  Then  the  man's  voice  was  heard,  ex 
claiming: 

"  O  Jesus,  Saviour,  strengthen  me!  " 

Then  soon  afterward  came  in  the  lictors,  and 
reported  to  the  magistrate,  saying: 

"  Vice-Prefect,  we  crushed  two  fingers,  and  then 
ordered  the  Christian  to  recant,  whereupon  he  be 
gan  to  call  upon  Jesus;  and  then  we  crushed  the 


io4     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

two  remaining  fingers,  and  the  man  endured  it  not, 
but  fainted  dead  away." 

"  Bring  him  hither !  "  said  the  Vice-Prefect. 

Then  they  brought  back  Lucanius,  and  already 
he  looked  weak  and  old  and  haggard.  Then 
the  Vice-Prefect  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  man,  and 
said: 

"  Thou  hast  tasted  of  the  thumb-screws,  Chris 
tian,  and  thou  remainest  obstinate;  but  we  have 
yet  the  rack,  that  giveth  torture  compared  with 
which  that  which  thou  hath  suffered  is  but  child's 
play.  Wilt  thou  recant  or  not?"  Then  an 
swered  Lucanius : 

"  Most  honorable  Roman,  I  knew  not  whether 
I  could  endure  this  agony,  and  did  greatly  fear 
that  the  fierce  pain  might  force  me  to  dishonor 
Christ;  but  now  I  know.  I  praise  God  that  hath 
strengthened  me  to  suffer  all  things  which  thou 
thinkest  thy  duty  requireth  thee  to  afflict  me  with. 
Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the 
Holy  Ghost,  Amen !  " 

"  It  is  enough,"  said  the  magistrate  to  the  lie- 
tors.  "  This  kind  never  yield,  and  farther  ques 
tion  would  be  useless  cruelty.  Keep  ye  him  safely 
until  sunrise  to-morrow;  give  him  to  eat  and  drink, 
and  in  the  morning  ye  shall  release  him  from  cus 
tody  without  molestation." 

Then  the  Christian  bowed  low,  saying: 

"  I  thank  thee  much,  for  thou  art  merciful,  and 


AFTER  THE  HIGH  ROMAN  FASHION     105 

hast  not  pressed  thy  legal  authority  against  me 
farther  than  thy  duty  doth  require." 

"  Certainly  not,"  said  the  Vice-Prefect.  "  A 
Roman  officer  must  do  his  duty,  without  regard 
to  any  personal  feeling  of  favor  or  of  hatred. 
Thou  hast  borne  thyself  well,  and  thou  wouldst  be 
a  worthy  man  if  once  set  free  from  thine  abomina 
ble  superstition." 

Then  the  lictors  took  him  to  his  dungeon,  to  be 
confined  until  sunrise,  as  had  been  ordered. 

Then  said  the  Vice-Prefect: 

"Bring  in  the  girl!" 

And  the  lictors  brought  before  him  Phoebe,  the 
daughter  of  Lucanius,  "  charged  with  the  crime 
of  being  a  Christian;"  and  the  maiden  being 
placed  in  the  prisoner's  dock,  her  examination  pro 
ceeded  as  in  the  former  case,  eliciting  the  fact  that 
she  was  a  Christian,  of  the  age  of  twenty  years, 
the  daughter  of  the  former  prisoner. 

The  girl  was  a  thorough  Roman  in  every  fea 
ture,  and  although  her  large  and  lustrous  eyes  be 
trayed  her  secret  terror,  she  was  calm  and  self- 
possessed,  revealing  in  the  patient  quiet  of  her 
bearing  the  self-control  that  comes  of  long  training 
in  the  direction  of  repressing  all  outward  signs  of 
emotion. 

'*  Thou  art  young  and  comely,  girl,"  said  the 
Vice-Prefect,  "  and  the  fact  that  no  indecorum  is 
laid  to  thy  charge  except  that  thou  hast  embraced 


io6     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

the  pestilent  and  inhuman  superstition  of  the  Chris 
tians,  inclineth  me  to  pity  thee;  but  thou  knowest 
that  I  must  and  will  enforce  the  law  against  thee, 
unless  thou  come  hither  and  upon  the  little  altar 
there  burn  incense  to  the  goddess  Venus,  denying 
this  malignant  Christ.  Wilt  thou  not  do  so, 
maiden?  " 

"Nay,  verily!" 

"  Dost  thou  know  the  law  concerning  the  Chris 
tian  maidens?  " 

"I  do  not!" 

"  From  the  days  of  the  Emperor  Nero  until 
recently,"  said  the  Vice-Prefect,  "  those  women 
who  confessed  their  adherence  to  this  pernicious 
sect  were  thrown  to  the  lions  or  decapitated,  or 
burned  at  the  stake.  But  this  ancient  severity  hath 
been  relaxed  by  the  more  recent  emperors,  and, 
under  the  most  holy  Emperor  Maxentius,  they  are, 
of  mercy,  no  longer  put  to  death.  The  law  sends 
them  not  ad  leonem,  but  ad  lenonem." 

"  The  emperor  is  mistaken  in  regard  to  clem 
ency,"  said  Phoebe,  "  for  I,  and  every  Christian 
girl,  would  prefer  to  go  to  the  lions,  rather  than 
endure  that  of  which  thou  speakest." 

"  But  the  law  is  more  merciful  unto  thee  than 
is  thy  malevolent  and  accursed  superstition.  I 
will  give  thee  until  sunset  to  consider  of  thy  con 
dition.  If  by  that  hour  thou  shalt  consent  to  curse 
this  Christ  and  burn  the  incense,  thou  mayst  go 


AFTER  THE  HIGH  ROMAN  FASHION     107 

hence  free;  but  if  thou  remainest  obdurate,  the  law 
shall  be  enforced,  whether  thon  wilt  or  not.  Think 
thou  well  upon  it.  Lictors,  take  her  to  her  dun 
geon!" 

Then  they  led  the  girl  into  one  of  the  dungeons 
of  the  place,  and  closed  and  shut  the  door  upon 
her.  The  *small,  dark  room  contained  only  an 
iron  couch,  a  chair,  a  small  wooden  table,  on 
which  there  was  a  water  jar  and  an  earthen  mug. 
The  girl  sank  down  upon  her  knees  in  silent,  ear 
nest  prayer. 

The  Vice-Prefect  remained  engaged  in  the  ex 
amination  of  other  prisoners.  He  remarked  that 
there  was  never  any  necessity  for  witnesses  on  the 
examination  of  those  who  were  charged  with  the 
crime  of  Christianity,  if  the  charge  were  true,  be 
cause  in  all  his  experience  he  had  never  known  one 
of  them  to  deny  the  fact. 

Just  at  sunset  the  Vice-Prefect  ordered  a  lictor 
to  inquire  whether,  after  reflection  upon  the  mat 
ter,  the  girl  Phoebe  was  willing  to  save  herself  by 
denying  Jesus  and  burning  incense  to  the  idol. 
The  lictor  reported  that  she  quietly  but  obstinately 
refused  to  do  either. 

u  Then  the  law  must  take  its  course,"  said  the 
Vice-Prefect,  and  the  young  girl  was  led  back  to 
her  dungeon  and  the  door  locked  upon  her.  But 
Marcellus,  obeying  a  sudden  impulse,  pressed  for 
ward,  and,  saluting  the  Vice-Prefect,  asked  that 


io8     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

he  might  be  permitted  to  visit  the  Christian 
maiden's  cell.  The  magistrate  evinced  some  sur 
prise  that  a  young  patrician  should  make  such  a 
request,  but  wrote  the  necessary  order  on  a  papyrus 
and  directed  a  lictor  to  conduct  the  centurion  to  the 
prison. 

And  Marcellus  went  out  following  the  lictor, 
and  when  they  had  reached  the  entrance  to  the 
dungeon  the  lictor  delivered  the  order  to  the  sentry 
on  duty  there,  and  thereupon  the  sentry  opened 
the  door  and  the  centurion  passed  into  the  dun 
geon,  and  the  door  was  closed. 


CHAPTER  IX 

A   FAIR   CONTRACT   FOR  A   PAGAN 

HEN  the  young  centurion  entered  the  cell 
of  Phoebe,  the  girl  instinctively  drew  away 
to  that  side  of  the  room  into  which  the  fast  fading 
light  of  day  sifted  through  a  small,  narrow  win 
dow  that  was  well  secured  by  transverse  iron  bars 
morticed  deeply  into  the  walls  of  solid  stone.  Ob 
serving  the  growing  darkness  of  the  dungeon, 
Marcellus  rapped  on  the  heavy  door  with  his 
sword-hilt,  and  when  the  sentry  answered,  he  said : 
"  Bring  thou  a  lamp  hither;  "  and  soon  the  sentry 
opened  the  door  and  gave  unto  him  a  small  lamp 
lighted,  which  the  centurion  placed  upon  the  table. 
Then  laying  his  sword  across  the  table,  he  seated 
himself  upon  the  only  chair,  and  turning  to  the 
young  girl,  he  said,  in  harsh  and  peremptory  tones : 
"  Come  thou  hither,  and  be  seated  upon  this  couch  1 
I  would  talk  with  thee,  and  see  thy  face  when  thou 
dost  answer  1  " 

The  frightened  girl  hesitated  for  a  moment  to 
obey  him,  and  gazed  appealingly  into  the  young 
man's  haggard  but  determined  face.  "  Come 
thou  hither,"  he  said  again,  with  sterner  accents. 

109 


i  io     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

Then,  preserving  her  self-possession  by  a  mighty 
effort,  she  calmly  came  forward  and  took  the  seat 
upon  the  couch  indicated  by  the  gesture  of  his 
hand,  near  and  immediately  in  front  of  him,  with 
the  lamp-light  shining  full  upon  her.  The  cen 
turion  turned  his  haggard  face  and  gazed  into  her 
timid  eyes  long  and  earnestly,  with  a  look  as  cruel 
and  hard  as  any  murderer's  visage  ever  wore,  and 
then,  in  tones  husky  with  some  strong  but  sup 
pressed  passion,  he  said:  "Thou  art  a  Chris 
tian,  and  thou  knowest  the  sentence  passed  upon 
thee;  but  I  would  know  more  of  the  accursed  and 
criminal  association  to  which  thou  dost  belong — • 
and  I  will  question  thee.  If  thou  dost  answer  me 
truthfully  and  promptly,  without  any  equivocation 
or  evasion,  I  will  show  thee  respect  and  kindness; 
if  thou  dost  lie  to  me,  or  if  thou  dost  prevaricate, 
or  if  thou  refuse  to  answer,  or  if  thou  dost  seek  to 
conceal  anything  of  which  I  ask  thee,  I  will  in  no 
way  stand  between  thee  and  the  sentence  of  the 
court.  Wilt  thou  be  truthful,,  direct,  and  without 
deceit,  or  not?  " 

His  hard  but  feverish  eyes  were  fixed  unblench- 
ingly  upon  those  of  the  shrinking  girl.  But  Phoebe 
calmly  answered:  "I  thank  God,  Roman,  this 
night,  that  there  is  no  act  of  all  my  life  that  need- 
eth  to  be  concealed.  There  is  nothing  in  the  faith 
of  a  Christian  but  what  all  men  are  invited  and 
earnestly  exhorted  to  know  and  examine  for  them- 


A  FAIR  CONTRACT  FOR  A  PAGAN     in 

selves.  Thou  canst  put  no  question  to  me,  cen 
turion,  which  I  need  hesitate  to  answer  truthfully 
and  unreservedly,  either  concerning  my  own  poor 
life,  if  thou  dost  wish  to  examine  that,  or  concern 
ing  our  pure,  peaceful,  harmless,  and  glorious  re 
ligion,  except  that  I  will  not  betray  any  who  are 
known  to  me  to  be  Christians;  nor  will  I  reveal 
unto  thee  any  sign  or  word  by  which  the  perse 
cuted  recognize  each  other.  Except  these  two 
things,  ask  what  thou  wilt,  and  I  will  answer  thee 
truly,  directly,  and  intelligently,  as  far  as  my  little 
knowledge  may  serve  me." 

"  Dost  thou  belong  to  any  organized  body,  or 
society,  among  the  Christians?" 

"  Yea,"  answered  Phoebe,  "  and  have  done  so 
from  infancy.  I  was  raised  up  in  the  Church." 

"  Hast  thou  been  accustomed  to  take  part  in  the 
secret  rites  and  ceremonies  of  these  societies?" 

"  Assuredly,"  answered  Phoebe;  "  but  thou  must 
know  that  there  is  nothing  in  the  nature  of  secrecy 
in  our  Christianity.  On  the  contrary,  the  Church 
would  gladly  hold  all  its  services  in  the  light  of 
day  —  publicly  —  if  the  Roman  law  allowed  it; 
only,  while  the  persecution  continues,  we  are  com 
pelled  to  worship  in  secret." 

;'  What  are  your  rites  and  ceremonies?  What 
eidolons  or  images  do  ye  use  in  them?  What  do 
the  Christians  do  in  these  assemblies?" 

"  It  would  take  long  to  tell  thee  all  intelligibly. 


ii2     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

The  principal  ceremonies  are  Baptism,  admin 
istered  when  one  unites  himself  with  one  of  our 
communities;  the  Supper  of  our  Lord,  consisting 
of  a  taste  of  consecrated  bread  and  wine,  used 
commonly  once  a  week;  singing,  prayer,  and 
preaching,  in  which  the  presbyters  explain  the 
Sacred  Book,  or  exhort  men  to  the  observance  of 
the  precepts  therein  contained." 

"  I  know  something  of  all  these  things  of  which 
thou  hast  spoken,  from  hearing  or  reading  the  ex 
aminations  of  other  Christians;  but  have  they  not 
secret  rites,  which  they  refuse  to  reveal,  even  to 
save  themselves  from  tortures  and  from  death? 
Abominable  practices,  which  shun  the  light  of  day, 
and  which  they  are  attestated  by  mighty  oaths 
never  to  disclose?  Speak  thou  the  truth!"  he 
said,  sternly  and  vehemently. 

"Nay,  verily,"  said  Phoebe;  "but  whatsoever 
things  are  pure,  whatsoever  things  are  lovely, 
whatsoever  things  are  honorable,  and  whatsoever 
things  are  of  good  report,  we  seek  for  those  things 
earnestly." 

"  What  is  the  real  object  of  these  societies?  " 

"  To  preserve  and  disseminate  the  knowledge  of 
one  true  God,  and  of  His  Son,  our  Saviour;  to 
encourage  each  other  in  holy  living,  and  to  avoid 
all  sin." 

"  What  form  of  oath  or  obligation  is  the  bond 
of  union  among  them?  " 


A  FAIR  CONTRACT  FOR  A  PAGAN      113 

"  There  is  no  oath  taken,  no  obligation  executed. 
One  who  is  admitted  into  a  church  giveth  all  that 
he  hath  for  the  common  good,  promises  to  lead 
a  pure  and  blameless  life,  and  to  love  the  brethren 
—  that  is,  all  who  are  Christians." 

"  What  dost  thou  suppose  to  be  the  chief  or 
vital  point  in  the  whole  system?  " 

"  Only  faith  in  Christ  as  a  Divine  Saviour,  and 
the  Agape;  that  love  for  all  men,  and  especially 
for  the  brethren,  for  which,  I  have  been  told,  you 
Romans  have  no  word  in  your  language." 

"What  is  Agape?" 

"  I  hardly  know  how  to  tell  thee  that.  The 
nearest  word  is  charity,  and  that  giveth  but  a  por 
tion  of  the  meaning;  for  when  Paul,  who  also  was 
a  prisoner  here  at  Rome  for  Christ's  sake,  seeketh 
to  define  this  charity  he  saith :  *  Though  I  have 
all  faith,  so  that  I  could  remove  mountains,  and 
have  not  charity,  I  am  nothing.  And  though  I 
bestow  all  my  goods  to  feed  the  poor,  and  have 
not  charity,  it  profited!  me  nothing.  Charity  suf- 
fereth  long,  and  is  kind;  charity  envieth  not; 
charity  vaunteth  not  itself;  is  not  puffed  up;  doth 
not  behave  itself  unseemly;  seeketh  not  her  own; 
is  not  easily  provoked;  thinketh  no  evil;  rejoiceth 
not  in  iniquity,  but  rejoiceth  in  the  truth;  believeth 
all  things;  hopeth  all  things;  endureth  all  things; 
charity  never  faileth.  And  now  abideth  faith, 
hope,  charity,  these  three;  but  the  greatest  of  these 


DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

is  charity.'  Ah!  Roman,  if  all  men  had  this  di 
vine  charity  in  the  soul  of  them,  no  man,  woman, 
nor  child  need  ever  fear  to  be  wronged  or  injured 
by  any  one ;  and  this  grace,  the  issue  of  which  is  a 
life,  pure,  harmless,  useful  and  Tbeautiful  here  and 
eternal  life  in  the  world  to  come,  is  that  for  which 
all  Christians  seek.1' 

"  Thou  lookest  as  if  thou  didst  believe  in  the 
verity  of  that  which  thou  hast  spoken  I  "  said  the 
centurion. 

"Yea,"  answered  Phoebe;  "with  all  my  soul 
and  strength  do  I  believe,  and  would  to  God  that 
thou,  and  all  men  with  thee,  did  so  believe." 

Then  there  fell  a  long  silence  between  them. 
The  girl  quietly  watched  him,  hoping  and  praying 
that  some  holy  influence  might  soften  his  heart 
toward  herself,  and  save  her  from  all  harm,  but 
the  young  man  sat  with  bowed  head,  and  strong, 
inscrutable  countenance;  submerged  in  troubled, 
doubtful,  bitter  thoughts,  until  he  seemed  almost 
to  have  forgotten  the  presence  of  his  prisoner  and 
all  their  gloomy  surroundings.  Finally  he  roused 
himself  by  a  visible  effort,  and  fixing  his  eyes  once 
more  upon  the  young  girl's  face,  he  said,  in  sud 
den,  imperative  tones:  "  Knowest  thou  the  Jew, 
Epaphras  ?  " 

Instantly  the  girl's  face,  that  had  begun  to  glow 
with  enthusiasm  while  she  recited  the  glorious 
hymn  of  Paul  in  praise  of  charity,  and  that  had 


A  FAIR  CONTRACT  FOR  A  PAGAN     115 

remained  bright  and  hopeful  ever  since,  was 
clouded  with  a  shadow  of  trouble,  but  almost  as 
quickly  it  resumed  its  usual  expression  of  self-pos 
session,  and  after  a  momentary  hesitation  she  re 
plied  :  "  I  do  know  an  Epaphras,  who  is  an 
Israelite  by  birth,  but  whether  he  be  the  same  of 
whom  thou  speakest  I  know  not." 

"  Yea,"  said  Marcellus,  with  hard,  bitter  sar 
casm;  "an  Israelite  by  birth;  a  Christian  by  re 
ligion;  a  learned  man,  too;  perhaps,  a  teacher 
or  a  bishop  of  the  sect  —  dost  thou  not  know 
him?" 

"  First  inform  me  why  thou  askest  concerning 
him?" 

"  I  perceive  that  thou  dost  know  the  man,"  said 
Marcellus.  "  I  do  not;  but  know  that  he  is  an 
educated  man,  and,  notwithstanding  that,  a  Chris 
tian.  I  seek  not  to  injure  him,  but  only  to  be  cer 
tain  whether  thou  knowest  the  man." 

"  Yea,"  said  Phoebe;  "  I  do  know  him,  Roman; 
a  great,  good  and  useful  man,  and  a  Christian. 
What  wouldst  thou  have  of  him?  " 

"  Nothing,"  replied  Marcellus.  "  But  dost 
thou  know  that  Dorcas,  the  daughter  of  Faustina, 
of  whom  this  same  Epaphras  hath  been  guardian, 
teacher  and  friend?  " 

"  I  have  never  seen  the  maiden,"  answered 
Phoebe,  "  but  have  often  heard  of  her;  for  she  is 
an  orphan,  both  of  whose  parents  suffered  martyr- 


ii6     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

dom  for  Jesus,  and  all  the  churches  love  and  honor 
her." 

The  angry  light  once  more  blazed  in  the  young 
man's  feverish  eyes,  and  he  demanded  harshly: 
"  How  is  it  that  thou  knowest  Epaphras  and  not 
Dorcas?  The  guardian  and  not  the  ward?  " 

"  Simply  from  the  fact  that  Epaphras  hath 
sometimes  held  services  for  our  community,  but  I 
was  never  at  his  chapel,  nor  hath  Dorcas,  so  far 
as  I  am  informed,  ever  attended  ours;  therefore, 
I  have  never  met  with  her." 

"  That,  indeed,  seemeth  plausible  enough," 
Marcellus  said;  "  but  thou  couldst  find  her  for  me, 
couldst  thou  not?  " 

"Yea,  verily,"  said  Phoebe.  "I  could  com 
municate  with  Epaphras  through  our  own  pastor, 
and  so  easily  find  the  maiden  Dorcas." 

'  Then,  if  thou  wilt  swear  in  good  faith  that 
thou  wilt  find  and  bring  her  unto  me,  thou  shalt 
go  hence  unharmed,  and  I  will  henceforth  stand 
for  a  friend  whose  protection  thou  and  thy  father 
may  safely  claim.  I  will  gratify  any  reasonable 
wish  of  thine  if  thou  shalt  deliver  unto  me  the 
maiden  Dorcas." 

"  Why  dost  thou  so  earnestly  seek  after  Dor 
cas?" 

'  That  is  mine  own  affair,"  he  answered, 
angrily,  "  and  cannot  in  anywise  concern  thee. 
Thou  shalt  be  safe,  I  tell  thee,  and  thou  and  thy 


A  FAIR  CONTRACT  FOR  A  PAGAN     117 

father  shall  enjoy  my  protection,  if  thou  wilt  disr 
cover  the  girl  and  give  her  up  to  me.  If  not, 
remember  to  what  thou  art  condemned;  and  the 
hours  are  passing  rapidly." 

The  girl  blanched  with  fear  and  sorrow,  but  she 
answered  boldly:  "  Roman,  thou  canst  not  name 
a  reward  for  which  I  would  betray  my  sister  Dor 
cas  unto  thee !  " 

"Thy  sister!"  said  Marcellus,  furiously. 
"  Even  now  thou  hast  declared  to  me  that  thou 
didst  not  even  know  the  girl." 

"Yea,"  answered  Phoebe,  quietly;  "  nor  do  I 
know  her,  even  by  the  sight;  but  she,  also,  is  a 
Christian,  and  all  Christian  girls  are  sisters  to 
each  other.  That  is  the  Agape.  I  would  not 
betray  her  to  secure  my  life,  nor  for  any  price 
that  thou  couldst  offer,  if  thou  didst  own  the 
empire." 

"  I  do  not  ask  thee  to  betray  the  girl.  I  would 
not  injure  her;  but  I  want  herl  Canst  thou  not 
see  that  I  am  miserable  because  she  hath  forsaken 
me?  Canst  thou  not  see  that  I  suffer  because  I 
see  her  face  and  hear  her  voice  no  more?  Dios 
curi!  "  he  shouted,  fiercely;  "  but  thou  shalt  seek 
and  find  her  for  me!  Dost  thou  hear?  I  say 
thou  shalt !  " 

"  Never !  "  she  answered,  quietly,  "  unless  thou 
first  inform  me  why  thou  dost  so  passionately  de 
sire  to  find  her,  and  I  then,  knowing  all,  shall  be- 


iiB     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

lieve  that  it  is  right  to  aid  thee;  for  if  it  seemeth 
wrong  to  me,  I  will  not  aid  thee,  Roman." 

The  young  man  gazed  upon  her  fiercely  and 
fixedly,  and  saw  that  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt 
to  compel  that  seemingly  calm  and  immovable  be 
ing  to  aid  him,  or  even  to  promise  to  do  so. 
''  Thou  art  like  unto  all  that  cherish  the  accursed 
superstition!  "  he  cried,  with  fearful  bitterness  of 
spirit.  "  Calm,  immovable,  implacable,  indiffer 
ent  to  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  all  men !  Enemies 
of  the  human  race !  Scorning  reward  or  punish 
ment  alike!  Alive  only  to  the  terrible  bondage 
which  this  fatal  superstition  fastens  upon  the  heart 
and  brain.  Thou  darest  even  to  scorn  my  very 
sorrow,  and  it  would  be  a  crime  to  pity  one  so 
pitiless  as  thou !  " 

He  sprang  up  and  roughly  seized  the  girl  by 
the  arm;  but,  although  terrified  and  almost  de 
spairing,  she  said,  with  seeming  calmness:  "If 
thou  dost  suffer  from  any  cause,  believe  me  that  I 
would  rejoice  to  find  it  possible  for  me  to  aid  thee. 
Wilt  thou  not  tell  me  all,  so  that  I  may  under 
stand  what  may  be  the  right,  and  do  for  thee  all 
that  duty  may  permit?" 

The  girl's  strange  calmness,  in  such  striking  con 
trast  to  his  own  tempestuous  passion,  seemed 
greatly  to  soothe  his  violence,  and  he  released  her, 
saying:  "  Perhaps  thou  art  right.  Sit  thou 
there,  and  I  will  tell  thee  all." 


A  FAIR  CONTRACT  FOR  A  PAGAN      119 

Then  hurriedly,  and  with  feverish  voice  and 
eyes,  he  said:  "Dorcas  was  at  the  villa  of  my 
father,  the  Vice-Prefect  Varus,  for  more  than  a 
year.  She  is  the  loveliest  and  the  most  gifted 
girl  in  all  the  world,  and  I  love  her  more  than  I 
love  my  life.  Suddenly,  about  a  month  ago,  she 
disappeared  —  went  away  of  her  own  accord  — 
and  she  must  be  concealed  somewhere  among  the 
Christians.  I  cannot  live  without  her;  thou  must 
find  her  for  me;  "  and  then,  with  almost  intoler 
able  supplication  in  his  voice,  he  added :  '  Thou 
wilt  find  her  for  me,  wilt  thou  not?  " 

"  Didst  thou  tell  Dorcas  of  thy  love  for  her?  " 

"  Yea,  and  that  made  her  fly  from  me,"  he  an 
swered,  sadly. 

"  And  wouldst  thou  seek  to  compel  her  to  re 
turn  to  thee,  knowing  that  she  loves  thee  not?  " 

"Dioscuri!"  he  half  shouted;  "but  Dorcas 
loveth  only  me.  She  did  tell  me  that  with  all 
solemnity,  and  from  her  face  and  manner  I  do 
know  she  spoke  the  truth.  And  yet  she  hath  for 
saken  me,  nor  have  I  seen  nor  heard  of  her  since 
then." 

"  Didst  thou  ask  her  to  become  thy  wife?  " 

"  Nay,  I  think  not.  A  wife  is  but  a  higher  sort 
of  slave.  In  Rome  we  do  not  marry  for  love,  but 
for  interest  or  convenience.  I  do  not.  suppose  it 
occurred  to  me  to  talk  of  marriage;  but  if  she 
would  only  be  my  wife,  I  would  be  a  happy  man." 


120     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

"  Perhaps  thou  hast  made  a  large  mistake,  cen 
turion.  We  Christian  maidens  marry  only  when 
we  love,  and  love  only  when  we  marry.  Our 
church  saith :  '  Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked  to 
gether  with  unbelievers; '  but  if  thou  hadst  desired 
Dorcas  in  marriage,  she  might  not  have  left  thee. 
Of  course,  I  do  not  know." 

"  Only  find  her  for  me,"  said  the  young  man; 
"  only  find  her!" 

"  I  will  do  this  much  for  thee,"  said  Phoebe. 
"If  thou  wilt  suffer  me  to  go  hence  unharmed,  I 
will  obtain  speech  of  Dorcas,  as  thou  knowest  I 
can  easily  do,  through  Epaphras  and  our  pres 
byters,  and  will  on  the  next  Sabbath  —  that  is,  the 
fourth  day  from  now  —  meet  thee  wherever  thou 
mayest  appoint  a  place,  and  will  bring  unto  thee 
any  message  or  letter  which  Dorcas  may  desire 
to  send.  If  she  refuse  to  write  to  thee,  or  to  send 
thee  any  word,  I  will  nevertheless  come  unto  thee 
again  and  inform  thee  exactly  how  my  undertak 
ing  in  thy  business  hath  resulted.  More  than  this 
I  cannot  promise  thee  to  do." 

"  Dost  thou  say  this  in  good  faith,  without 
equivocation  or  lying?" 

"  Christians  never  lie,"  she  answered  proudly. 
"  Hast  thou  known  of  any  Christian  that  did  ever 
lie  even  to  escape  the  rigor  of  the  Roman  laws?  " 

"  Nay,"  answered  Marcellus,  "  and  I  will  even 
trust  thy  word.  If  thou  shalt  prove  to  be 


A  FAIR  CONTRACT  FOR  A  PAGAN      121 

true  and  faithful,  I  will,  henceforth,  protect  thee 
even  if  thou  shouldst  accomplish  nothing.  Only 
do  all  that  thou  canst  do  to  aid  me  and  thou  shalt 
be  safe." 

Then  the  girl's  dark,  luminous  eyes  grew  soft, 
and  she  took  the  centurion's  hand  in  hers,  and 
bending  low,  did  kiss  his  hand,  saying:  "Thou 
art  a  man  just  and  merciful  according  to  thy  light 
and  knowledge.  Surely,  I  think  if  the  maiden 
Dorcas  would  be  wife  to  any  Roman  who  is  not 
a  Christian  she  would  marry  thee." 

Then  the  young  man  spread  his  toga  on  the  iron 
couch,  saying  to  her,  kindly:  "  Thou  must  be 
weary,  Phoebe.  Repose  thou  here  and  have  no 
fear.  The  couch  is  iron,  it  is  true,  but  it  is  smooth 
and  thou  wilt  find  it  not  uncomfortable.  It  is 
necessary  that  I,  too,  remain  until  the  sun  shall 
rise,  and  thou  shalt  then  depart.  On  the  even 
ing  of  the  fourth  day  hence  come  thou  to  the  villa 
of  the  Vice-Prefect  Varus  on  the  Appian  Way, 
according  to  thy  promise,  fearing  nothing." 

The  girl  stretched  herself  out  upon  the  prison 
couch,  without  any  sense  of  doubt  or  fear,  and 
soon  the  sorrows  of  that  long  and  weary  day  were 
lost  to  her  in  calm  and  healthful  slumber.  But 
the  young  man  sat  motionless,  his  elbow  upon  the 
table,  his  head  upon  his  hand,  and  his  sore 
heart  overburdened  with  sleepless  thoughts.  He 
thought  of  Dorcas,  and  all  that  he  had  ever  heard, 


122     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

and  all  that  he  had  personally  observed  concerning 
the  mysterious  Christian  Association  to  which  she 
belonged,  passed  with  the  tide  of  conflicting  emo 
tions  through  his  restless  heart.  What  was  he  to 
think  of  this  Christian  community?  There  was  a 
hopeless  and  irreconcilable  antagonism  between 
what  he  had  heard  of  the  Christians  and  what  he 
had  seen  for  himself.  It  was  necessary  to  reject 
one  or  the  other  view  of  the  hated  sect ;  the  differ 
ence  between  the  two  accounts  of  them  could  never 
be  harmonized;  there  was  no  possibility  of  holding 
to  the  possible  verity  of  both  views.  He  knew  that 
for  centuries  the  Imperial  Edicts  —  the  very  high 
est  and  most  authoritative  form  of  Roman  law  — 
issued  for  the  suppression  of  Christianity,  assumed 
the  facts  to  be  that  it  was  a  secret  association  of 
the  depraved,  vile  and  criminal  —  inhuman  and 
pestilent,  atheistic,  licentious  and  cruel.  He  knew 
that  even  the  grave,  erudite,  and  laconic  Tacitus, 
Rome's  greatest  historian,  had  described  the  Chris 
tians  in  terms  of  calmest  unmitigated  scorn  and 
loathing,  and  had  not  censured  the  terrible  cruel 
ties  inflicted  upon  them,  even  by  Nero,  whom  he 
hated.  He  knew  that  the  popular  sentiment  of 
Rome,  and,  in  fact,  of  the  Empire,  held  the  Chris 
tians  in  utter  abhorrence,  and  commonly  attributed 
to  them  as  rites  and  ceremonies  of  their  religion 
—  crimes  so  utterly  abominable,  that  pagan  re 
ligion  refused  the  promise  of  pardon  to  the  per- 


A  FAIR  CONTRACT  FOR  A  PAGAN     123 

petrators  of  such  loathsome  atrocities  upon  any 
terms  whatever,  and  pagan  philosophy  did  not  pre 
tend  to  know  or  seek  for  any  expiation  for  such 
guilt.  But,  personally,  he  knew  that  many  of 
those  who  had  been  subjected  to  torture  because 
of  this  religion,  were  firm,  unyielding,  meek,  quiet, 
patient  and  forgiving;  praying  even  for  their 
judges  and  executioners.  He  knew  that  only  in 
rare  instances  had  any  crime  been  charged  against 
them,  except  the  crime  of  being  Christians,  and  in 
no  instance  had  such  crime  been  proved.  The 
only  pure,  chaste,  educated  girls  he  had  ever  met 
with  were  both  Christians,  neither  of  them  ascetics 
— •  both  full  of  human  kindliness  and  sympathy  — 
but  both  as  fixed  and  changeless  as  the  everlasting 
hills  in  their  devotion  to  this  terrible  superstition, 
and  in  their  adherence  to  that  manner  of  life  which 
seemed  in  some  way  to  be  the  natural  and  logical 
outcome  of  their  faith.  One  view  must  be  true 
to  the  exclusion  of  the  others;  there  was  no  neutral 
ground  between  them  upon  which  they  could  both 
stand  together.  If  judged  by  what  Roman  law, 
and  history,  and  opinions  declared  to  be  the  truth 
concerning  them,  no  association  on  earth  had  ever 
been  so  hopelessly,  desperately  and  determinedly 
wicked.  Judged  only  by  what  he  personally 
knew,  no  society  was  ever  so  pure,  exalted,  self- 
sacrificing  and  perfect.  He  could  not  decide  for 
himself  how  the  truth  was;  and  hour  after  hour 


i24     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

he  pondered  the  subject  without  reaching  any 
satisfactory  conclusion,  fearing  that  even  the 
outward  appearance  of  temperance,  veracity, 
meekness  and  constancy  which  had  so  powerfully 
impressed  him  upon  many  occasions,  might  be  — 
as  it  was  commonly  said  to  be  —  only  a  mask  be 
hind  which  Christianity  concealed  from  the  out 
raged  and  insulted  world  an  atheistic,  beastly  and 
abominable  wickedness.  And  so,  while  the  young 
girl  slept  calmly  and  peacefully,  the  Roman's  heart 
was  like  the  troubled  sea  that  cannot  rest;  and  so 
the  night  passed  slowly  away,  until  the  slant  rays 
of  the  rising  sun  struck  on  the  narrow  dungeon 
window.  Then  Phoebe  awoke,  and  her  friendly 
salutation  being  returned  by  the  centurion,  he 
rapped  upon  the  door  with  his  sword-hilt,  and  the 
sentry  came  and  opened  it. 

"  Say  thou  nothing  to  any  one,"  Marcellus  told 
her,  "  but  quietly  follow  me." 

And  quickly  they  passed  through  to  the  outer 
door  of  the  prison,  and  there  met  with  Lucanius, 
and  father  and  daughter  joyfully  embraced  each 
other,  and  so  they  departed  from  that  cruel  place. 
And  the  centurion  passed  them  by,  saying  to  the 
girl,  in  low,  emphatic  tones :  "  Keep  thou  thy 
promises  faithfully." 

To  whom  she  answered,  without  pausing  on  her 
way:  "  Yea,  Roman!  Doubt  not  thou  at  all!  " 

And  as  they  went  slowly  on  their  way  to  their 


A  FAIR  CONTRACT  FOR  A  PAGAN     125 

pleasant  home  beyond  the  Tiber,  the  young  girl 
noticed  that  her  father's  hand  was  wrapped  up  in 
linen  cloths;  and  she  said  unto  him:  "Father, 
what  hath  hurt  thy  hand?"  and  her  heart  grew 
sick  within  her  as  she  waited  for  his  answer: 
"  The  Lord  hath  tried  me,  daughter,  but  not  be 
yond  what  I  was  able,  for  His  sake,  to  bear.  In 
fact,  when  they  had  crushed  my  ringers  in  the  cruel 
engines,  it  seemed  to  me  that  all  at  once  I  did 
receive  great  strength  from  Him  that  helpeth ;  and 
I  do  believe  that  no  tortures  could  ever  have  been 
sufficient  to  force  me  to  deny  the  faith.  Not  only 
is  one  strengthened  of  the  Lord,  but  I  think  also 
that  suffering,  to  some  extent,  defeats  the  purposes 
for  which  it  is  inflicted,  and  that  there  is  a  point 
beyond  which  it  ceases  to  be  torture." 

"  I  glory  at  thy  constancy !  "  she  answered. 
"  The  Master  hath  dealt  most  kindly  with  me. 
The  young  Roman  whom  thou  didst  hear  warning 
me  to  keep  a  promise  which  I  made  to  him,  seeketh 
to  find  Dorcas,  the  Daughter  of  Faustina,  and  I 
did  promise  to  bring  news  of  her  to  him.  He 
loved  her  with  a  strong,  controlling  passion;  and, 
I  think,  will  see  that  no  injury  shall  henceforth  be-^ 
fall  us  by  the  Roman  law;  and  he  hath  been  good 
to  me  and  kind." 


CHAPTER  X 

"  HE   THAT   SEEKETH    FINDETH  " 

A  LTHOUGH  Marcellus  derived  some  hope 
*"  *•  and  consolation  from  the  apparent  sincerity 
with  which  Phoebe  had  promised  to  aid  him  in 
learning  the  whereabouts  of  Dorcas,  and  in  com 
municating  with  her,  he  did  not  relax  his  efforts 
to  discover  some  possible  path  by  which  she  had 
been  accustomed  to  pass  from  the  Appian  Way, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  ruined  villa,  unto  that  un 
known  place  to  which  he  was  satisfied  she  had  gone 
on  every  Seventh  day  during  the  period  in  which 
she  had  been  resident  at  the  villa  of  Varus.  So 
deeprooted  and  inveterate  was  the  distrust  and 
hatred  with  which  the  Romans  of  his  rank  re 
garded  Christianity,  and  all  those  who  professed 
it,  that  while  he  had  resolved  to  trust  the  promise 
of  Phoebe,  he  found  it  really  impossible  to  give 
more  than  a  painful  and  unsatisfactory  half-con 
fidence  to  her,  and  in  this  uncertain  state  of  mind, 
being  compelled  to  wait  at  least  until  the  afternoon 
of  the  next  Seventh  day  before  he  would  certainly 
know  whether  she  intended  to  deal  sincerely  with 
him,  he  could  not  rest  supinely  in  the  interval,  but 

126 


"  HE  THAT  SEEKETH  FINDETH  "      127 

found  it  necessary  to  keep  up  his  almost  daily  visits 
to  the  ruined  villa,  and  his  unavailing  search  for 
the  path  Dorcas  had  been  accustomed  to  follow 
in  that  vicinity. 

Accordingly,  on  the  following  Sunday  morning, 
long  before  the  sun  had  risen,  Marcellus  hastened 
along  the  Appian  Way  toward  the  desolated  villa 
—  a  vicinity  that  for  more  than  a  month  he  had 
haunted  like  some  restless  ghost.  While  he  was 
wandering  in  that  dreary  waste,  rendered  almost 
oblivious  to  his  surroundings  by  the  one  consum 
ing  sorrow  and  yearning  of  his  heart,  his  attention 
was  caught  by  the  form  of  an  old  woman,  tramp 
ing  slowly  and  painfully  through  the  tangled 
thicket,  in  which  there  was  no  visible  path.  He 
vacantly  wondered  what  she  could  be  doing  there 
at  such  an  early  hour,  and  noticed  that  she  did  not 
seem  to  wander  aimlessly  about  in  the  vagabond 
fashion  that  had  become  so  familiar  to  his  own 
experience,  but  pursued  her  slow  and  difficult  way, 
as  if  she  knew  where  she  was  going,  and  as  if  she 
had  some  definite  end  in  view.  The  young  man 
kept  his  eyes  upon  her,  followed  her  cautiously, 
and  gradually  drew  nearer  to  her  until  she  was 
seventy-five  yards  distant  from  him,  when  suddenly 
she  disappeared,  he  could  not  imagine  how  or 
whither.  "  Gone  like  a  witch !  "  he  said  to  him 
self;  but  he  could  clearly  distinguish  the  very  spot 
on  which  she  was  standing  when  she  had  vanished; 


128      DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

and,  keeping  his  eye  fixed  upon  that  spot,  and 
moved  by  an  almost  powerless  hope,  he  cautiously, 
but  swiftly  stepped  forward,  and  found  only  what 
seemed  to  be  a  sheet  of  plaster  on  the  hillside,  that 
looked  as  if  it  might  once  have  formed  part  of  a 
cistern  or  cellar  long  since  destroyed.  That  was 
all.  But  when  he  came  immediately  to  this  frag 
ment  of  a  ruined  wall  he  perceived  that  the  next 
step  to  the  left  would  lead,  not  as  he  supposed, 
into  the  thicket  that  spread  around  on  every  side, 
but  through  a  narrow  opening,  half-hidden  by 
brambles  and  underbrush,  into  the  side  of  the  hill. 
It  was  dark  as  midnight,  and  he  knew  neither  the 
depth  nor  direction  of  the  cavern,  but  with  that 
fine  capacity  for  instantaneous  decision  and  action, 
which  is  one  of  the  surest  results  of  thorough  mil 
itary  training,  he  stepped  lightly  and  quickly  into 
that  subterranean  darkness.  But,  in  a  moment,  he 
stood  still  with  surprise.  A  narrow  line  of  artifi 
cial  light  caught  his  eye,  and,  gazing  intently,  he 
saw  that,  a  few  feet  away  from  him,  the  old 
woman  whom  he  had  seen  outside,  held  in  her 
hand  a  diminutive  lamp,  and  that  by  its  feeble 
flame  she  was  endeavoring  to  light  the  wick  of  an 
other  lamp  of  ordinary  size.  And  as  soon  as  her 
trembling  hands  enabled  her  to  do  so,  she  hid  away 
the  smaller  lamp,  and  bearing  the  other  in  her 
hand  proceeded  on  her  way.  The  light  gave  suffi 
cient  illumination  to  reveal  to  Marcellus  the  fact 


"  HE  THAT  SEEKETH  FINDETH  "      129 

that  she  was  going  through  a  long  gallery  cut  out 
of  the  rock,  of  the  length  of  which  he  could  not 
conjecture;  but  instantly  he  determined  to  follow 
the  woman  cautiously  wherever  she  might  go,  and 
see  what  would  come  of  it. 

The  old  woman  pursued  her  way  along  the 
smooth  floor  of  the  gallery  with  greater  alacrity, 
and  the  young  centurion  followed  her  cautiously 
through  every  bend  and  winding  of  the  path.  He 
soon  became  satisfied  that  she  was  too  deaf  to 
hear  his  footsteps,  and  that  the  only  danger  he 
incurred  of  being  discovered  by  her  lay  in  the 
probability  that  she  might  suddenly  turn  around 
and  see  him;  and  there  seemed  no  probability  of 
this  occurrence,  because,  having  the  light  in  her 
hand,  she  would  be  looking  away  from  it  and  into 
the  darkness.  He  therefore  followed  close  upon 
her  heels,  determined  not  to  lose  sight  of  her 
again.  She  went  on  a  great  distance,  and  sud 
denly  she  paused  a  moment  where  another  gallery 
opened  into  that  in  which  she  walked.  Then 
came  a  voice  that  cried  in  loud,  distinct  tones: 
;'  Walk  thou  by  faith?  "  and  the  woman  answered 
with  the  words:  "In  His  name,"  and  entered 
into  the  new  gallery.  No  one  was  anywhere 
visible,  nor  could  Marcellus  determine  whence 
came  this  singular  challenge;  for  he  understood  at 
once  that  it  was  a  challenge  as  much  as  the  pass 
word  of  a  Roman  encampment.  But  as  he  bore 


i3o     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

no  lamp,  and  followed  the  old  woman  so  closely, 
he  rightly  supposed  that  the  invisible  sentry  would 
take  it  for  granted  that  she  was  his  guide  through 
the  labyrinth,  and  so  kept  on  his  way  without  paus 
ing,  and  was  not  challenged.  Whenever  she  came 
to  a  new  gallery  into  which  she  desired  to  go,  the 
woman  paused,  and  the  same  challenge  was  given : 
"  Walk  thou  by  faith  ?"  and  the  same  answer 
given,  "  In  His  name;"  and  at  last  she  entered 
the  same  chapel  in  the  rock  into  which  we  have 
already  followed  Dorcas. 

The  room  was  filled  with  men,  women  and  chil 
dren,  and  was  fairly  lighted  by  a  multitude  of 
lamps  set  in  niches  cut  into  the  wall  on  every  side. 
Marcellus  paused  before  he  had  reached  the  en 
trance,  and  squeezed  himself  close  against  the 
more  shaded  side  of  the  gallery,  and  contemplated 
the  strange  and  quiet  scene  before  him. 

On  the  larger  table  lay  a  thing,  covered  over 
with  a  long  cloak,  the  outlines  of  which  resembled 
those  of  the  human  form.  On  the  smaller  table 
was  a  snowy  linen  cloth  that  concealed  something, 
the  shape  of  which  the  young  centurion  could  not 
divine;  but  his  glance  fell  upon  it  almost  suspi 
ciously,  because  he  understood  at  once  that  he  had 
come  upon  one  of  those  secret  chapels  in  which 
the  hated  Christians  were  wont  to  meet  in  order 
to  celebrate  the  fearful  rites  of  their  abominable 


"  HE  THAT  SEEKETH  FINDETH  "      131 

and  inhuman  superstition.  He  knew  well  that  it 
had  long  been  reported,  and  generally  believed,  at 
Rome,  "  that  the  Christians,  as  the  most  wicked  of 
human  kind,  practiced,  in  their  dark  recesses, 
every  abomination  that  a  depraved  fancy  could 
suggest,  and  solicited  the  favor  of  their  unknown 
God  by  the  sacrifice  of  every  moral  virtue."  He 
knew  "  that  many  who  pretended  to  confess,  or 
to  relate  the  ceremonies  of  this  abhorred  society, 
had  asserted  that  human  sacrifices  were  among  the 
least  of  the  horrible  barbarities  practiced  among 
the  mystic  symbols  of  initiation;  that  proselytes 
were  unknowingly  led  to  inflict  many  a  secret  and 
mortal  wound  on  the  innocent  victim  of  their  er 
rors;  that  as  soon  as  the  cruel  deeds  were  per 
petrated,  the  sectaries  drank  the  blood,  and 
pledged  themselves  to  eternal  secrecy  by  a  mutual 
consciousness  of  guilt."  It  was  as  confidently  af 
firmed  that  this  inhuman  sacrifice  was  succeeded  by 
a  suitable  entertainment,  marked  by  orgies  to 
which  those  of  profligate  Rome  were  innocent  in 
comparison. 

He  had  never  really  believed  all  of  the  atro 
cious  calumnies  commonly  circulated  concerning 
the  Christians,  and  since  he  had  known  that  a  be 
ing  so  chaste  and  refined  as  Dorcas  belonged  to 
the  sect,  he  had  come  to  believe  that  nearly  all  of 
these  malicious  reports  were  false;  yet  he  felt  a 


132      DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

thrill  of  horrible  curiosity  in  looking  upon  that 
snowy  cloth,  so  carefully  disposed,  which  concealed 
from  view  he  knew  not  what. 

The  young  man  gazed  eagerly  over  the  assem 
bly  —  perhaps  four  hundred  in  number  —  seeking 
to  discover  whether  Dorcas  was  present,  but  as 
the  gallery  in  which  he  stood  was  on  the  west  side 
of  the  chapel,  while  all  the  congregation  faced  the 
east,  he  could  not  tell  whether  she  was  among 
those  over  whom  his  range  of  vision  extended  or 
not.  He  determined,  at  any  hazard,  to  remain 
quiet,  and  await  such  developments  as  might  occur, 
knowing,  at  any  rate,  that  he  would  have  the  op 
portunity  to  see  and  hear  for  himself  just  what  the 
Christians  do  and  say  in  one  of  those  secret  assem 
blies  which  inspired  the  ordinary  Roman  with 
loathing  and  with  horror;  and  what  he  saw  and 
heard  was  as  follows:  A  man  of  about  forty- 
eight,  possibly  fifty,  years  of  age,  tall,  erect, 
swarthy,  handsome,  of  a  grave  and  dignified  de 
meanor,  stepped  upon  the  low  platform  at  the  east 
side  of  the  chapel,  and,  facing  the  audience,  raised 
his  right  hand  up,  and  immediately  every  one  of 
the  assembly  quietly  rose,  and,  with  uplifted  hand, 
in  solemn  tones  followed  the  presbyter,  saying: 
"  I  believe  in  God  the  Father  Almighty,  and  in 
Jesus  Christ  His  only  Son,  our  Lord;  who  was 
conceived  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  born  of  the  Virgin 
Mary;  suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate;  crucified, 


"  HE  THAT  SEEKETH  FINDETH  "      133 

dead,  and  buried!  On  the  third  day  He  rose 
from  the  dead,  ascended  into  heaven;  and  sitteth 
on  the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father  Almighty; 
whence  He  shall  come  to  judge  the  quick  and  the 
dead.  I  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost;  in  the  com 
mon  Church;  in  the  communion  of  Believers;  the 
forgiveness  of  Sins;  the  resurrection  of  the  Dead; 
and  the  life  everlasting.  Amen !  " 

Marcellus  heard  this  profession  of  faith  with 
profound  interest  and  astonishment.  Because  the 
Christians  refused  to  worship  any  of  the  gods  of 
Rome,  the  general  belief  among  the  pagans  was 
that  they  were  atheists,  who  had  no  God  at  all;  but 
having  listened  to  their  own  solemn  declaration 
that  they  believed  in  God  the  Father,  and  in  Christ 
His  Son,  it  occurred  to  him  that  if  the  Holy  Ghost 
were  a  Divine  Being  also,  they  could  not  be  athe 
ists,  but  had  faith  in  these  three  Gods  at  least; 
and  he  gazed  carefully  around  to  see  whether  the 
chapel  contained  any  idol,  eikon,  or  image,  to  rep 
resent  these  Deities;  but  there  was  none  whatever. 

Then  the  whole  audience  united  in  singing  to  a 
sweet  and  solemn  melody  the  following  words : 

"  Lord,  as  the  lamp-light  guides  our  feet 
Thro'  all  this  dark  but  dear  retreat, 
So  let  Thy  true  light  mark  the  road 
That  leads  our  willing  hearts  to  God, 
And  blessedness,  and  peace! 


134     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

"  As  here,  so  far  beneath  the  ground, 
But  for  our  lamps  a  gloom  profound, 
Would  darken  all  with  fear  and  doubt ; 
So  would  our  hearts  be  dark  without 
The  light  of  love  and  faith. 

"  But  for  our  lamps  fierce  beasts  would  come 
And  make  this  safe  retreat  their  home; 
So  would  fierce  lusts  and  passions  rise 
To  vex  our  spirits  with  their  lies  — 
But  for  the  light  of  faith  and  love. 

"  Lord,  as  Thy  people  here  abide 
Hidden  from  earthly  hate  and  pride; 
So  may  Thy  Spirit  teach  each  heart 
To  live  a  holy  life  apart, 

Hidden  with  Christ  in  God !  " 

Marcellus  heard  the  sweet  voice  of  Dorcas, 
dwelling  lovingly  upon  the  words  of  that  chaste 
and  simple  song,  and  began  to  think  that  it  was 
only  the  ignorance  of  vindictive  hatred  that  could 
associate  the  idea  of  crime  or  impurity  with  a  wor 
ship  so  free  from  any  exhibition  of  passion  or 
pride.  But  there  were  yet  greater  surprises  await 
ing  him. 

The  presbyter  kneeled  down,  saying:  "  Let  us 
pray,"  the  whole  assembly  repeating  the  prayer 
with  him : 

"Our  Father,  which  art  in  Heaven;  hallowed 
be  Thy  name;  Thy  kingdom  come;  Thy  will  be 


"  HE  THAT  SEEKETH  FINDETH  "      135 

done  on  earth  as  in  Heaven;  give  us  daily  bread 
sufficient  for  our  daily  use;  and  forgive  us  our 
debts  as  we  also  forgive  our  debtors ;  and  may  we 
not  be  led  into  trial;  but  deliver  us  from  trouble; 
for  Thine  is  the  kingdom  and  the  power,  and  the 
doctrine,  forever.  Amen." 

And  then  the  presbyter  alone  said:  "Al 
mighty  God,  who  hast  given  us  grace  at  this  time, 
with  one  accord,  to  make  our  common  supplica 
tions  unto  Thee;  and  dost  promise  that  when  two 
or  three  are  gathered  together  in  Thy  name,  Thou 
wilt  grant  their  requests ;  fulfill  now,  O  Lord,  the 
desire  and  petitions  of  Thy  servants,  as  may  be 
most  expedient  for  them;  granting  us  in  this  world 
knowledge  of  Thy  truth,  and  in  the  world  to  come, 
life  everlasting." 

And  the  people  said:     "  Amen!  " 

Then  the  presbyter  alone  continued  in  prayer, 
saying:  "  Most  gracious  God,  in  whose  hands 
are  the  destinies  of  all  nations,  and  of  every  man, 
we  humbly  beseech  Thee  to  bless  Thy  servant, 
Maxentius,  the  Emperor  of  Rome,  and  all  others 
in  authority;  open  his  eyes  to  Thy  truth,  that  he 
may  escape  Thy  righteous  judgment  by  due  re 
pentance;  that  he  may  cease  to  vex  Thy  people; 
and  so  order  his  government  that  peace  and  happi 
ness,  truth  and  justice,  religion  and  piety,  may  be 
established  among  us  for  all  generations;  and  that 
we,  Thy  servants,  being  hurt  by  no  persecutions, 


136     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

may  evermore  give  thanks  unto  Thee  in  Thy  holy 
Church,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord." 

And  all  the  people  answered  "  Amen." 

And  the  presbyter,  stretching  forth  his  hands 
over  the  people,  said:  "The  grace  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  the  love  of  God,  and  the  fellow 
ship  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  us  all  evermore. 
Amen!" 

Then  said  the  centurion  to  himself:  "  They 
even  invoke  the  blessing  of  their  God  upon  the 
Emperor  Maxentius,  who  persecuted  them  to  the 
death." 

Then  the  presbyter  said :  "  Ye  that  do  truly 
and  earnestly  repent  of  all  sins,  and  are  in  love 
and  charity  with  all  your  neighbors,  and  are  lead 
ing  holy  lives,  following  the  commandments  of 
God,  and  walking  in  His  holy  ways,  draw  near 
with  faith,  and  take  this  Holy  Sacrament  to  your 
comfort,  giving  most  humble  and  hearty  thanks  to 
God  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  for  the  re 
demption  of  the  world  by  the  death  and  passion 
of  our  Saviour  Christ,  who  did  humble  Himself 
even  to  the  death  upon  the  cross,  that  He  might 
make  us  the  children  of  God,  and  exalt  us  unto 
everlasting  life,  enabling  us,  even  in  this  present 
world,  to  put  our  whole  trust  and  confidence  in  His 
divine  mercy,  and  to  serve  Him  in  holiness  and 
pureness  of  living,  the  fruits  of  which  are  love, 


"  HE  THAT  SEEKETH  FINDETH  "      137 

joy,  and  peace,  and  the  end  of  which  is  life  eter 
nal." 

Then,  as  many  as  could  do  so  kneeled  round  the 
table,  and  the  presbyter,  removing  that  linen  cloth 
which  had  excited  the  curiosity  of  Marcellus,  un 
covered  a  flagon  of  wine,  a  small  cup,  and  a  plate 
full  of  unleavened  bread.  Thereof  he  gave  each 
one  to  eat,  saying :  '*  The  body  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  which  He  gave  for  you,  preserve  your  soul 
and  body  unto  everlasting  life." 

Likewise,  taking  the  cup  of  wine,  he  gave  unto 
each  of  them,  saying:  "  The  blood  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  which  He  shed  for  you,  preserve  your 
souls  and  bodies  unto  everlasting  life." 

And,  when  they  had  partaken,  he  said: 
"  Arise  ye,  and  go  in  peace,  and  the  peace  of  God 
be  with  you." 

Then  the  whole  assembly  rose  and  united  in 
chanting  the  following  words :  "  Glory  be  to 
God  on  high,  and  peace  on  earth  amongst  good 
men.  We  praise  Thee !  we  bless  Thee !  we  wor 
ship  Thee !  we  give  thanks  unto  Thee,  O  Lord 
God  and  everlasting  King !  " 

Then  the  presbyter  stepped  to  the  longer  table 
and  removed  the  cloak,  uncovering  the  corpse  of 
a  man.  Then  the  presbyter,  resuming  his  place 
upon  the  platform,  spake  as  follows:  "  Beloved, 
ye  know  that  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  unstopped  the 


138     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

ears  of  the  deaf,  restored  sight  to  the  blind,  raised 
the  dead,  and  did  many  other  wonderful  works, 
in  order  than  men  might  believe-  Ye  know  that 
Christ  committed  thaumaturgical  power  to  His 
Apostles,  and,  through  them,  unto  the  common 
church,  which  power  hath  been  continuously  ex 
ercised  unto  this  day,  whereof  all  ye  are  witnesses. 
Ye  know,  also,  that  by  far  the  greater  part  of 
those  Christians  who,  from  the  beginning,  have 
suffered  martyrdom,  did  rejoice  to  be  counted 
worthy  so  to  suffer  for  the  faith  of  Christ,  and 
refused  to  accept  deliverance,  and  did  not  desire 
the  Anastasis.  But  this  man,  whom  ye  all  know, 
having  been  condemned  on  yesterday  to  die  be 
cause  he  followed  Jesus,  did  earnestly  desire  the 
Anastasis  for  the  sake  of  his  motherless  children 
and  for  the  sake  of  the  work  which  he  might  yet 
accomplish  for  the  Lord,  and  sent,  by  certain  of 
the  brethren,  to  beseech  the  church  that  ye  would 
pray  God  to  raise  him  from  the  dead.  Therefore, 
I  desire  ye  all  once  more  to  unite  in  prayer,  in  faith 
doubting  nothing,  that,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God, 
our  brother  Charis  may  abide  with  us  yet  longer 
for  the  accomplishment  of  the  holy  purposes  which 
he  had  in  his  heart  when  the  pagans  slew  him." 

And  the  presbyter  kneeled  down,  and  all  the 
people  with  him,  and  the  presbyter  said:  "Al 
mighty  God,  Father  of  all  mercies,  that  by  Thy 
Son,  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  didst  create  all 


"  HE  THAT  SEEKETH  FINDETH  "      139 

worlds,  and  all  their  natural  laws,  by  which  the 
order  and  harmony  of  the  universe  subsisteth,  to 
whom  all  things  are  possible,  we,  Thy  faithful 
servants,  beseech  Thee,  if  it  be  in  accordance  with 
Thy  holy  will,  to  recall  this  our  brother  back  to 
earthly  life,  for  Thine  own  glory,  and  for  the  sake 
of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen." 

And  all  the  people  said  "  Amen !  "  and  the  pres 
byter  came  up  to  the  longer  table,  and  to  the  corpse 
thereon,  and  took  it  by  the  hands,  saying: 
"  Brother,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  concerning  thee, 
in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  arise  and 
live." 

And  the  man  got  up,  first  into  a  sitting  posture 
upon  the  table,  and  thence  upon  his  feet  on  the 
floor,  saying:  "  Praise  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  that 
hath  granted  our  desire,  and  hath  renewed  my 
life." 

And  the  people  praised  God  with  him.  And 
then  he  inquired  for  his  children,  and,  having  found 
them,  he  greeted  them  affectionately  and  went  on 
rejoicing. 

The  Roman  rubbed  his  eyes,  to  assure  himself 
that  he  was  not  in  a  dream,  but  the  Christians  took 
the  fact  as  if  it  were  to  them  a  pleasant  but  not 
uncommon  event. 


CHAPTER  XI 

IN   WHICH    PHCEBE   REDEEMETH    HER   PROMISE 

"\T7HEN  Lucanius  and  Phoebe  reached  their 
home  beyond  the  Tiber,  after  the  young 
girl  had  been  released  from  the  prison,  many  of 
the  Christians  who  had  heard  the  fact  that  they 
had  been  seized  and  carried  into  the  city  assembled 
to  give  expression  to  sympathy  for  their  sufferings, 
rejoicings  for  their  happy  escape,  and  reverence 
for  Lucanius,  who  was  thenceforth  numbered 
among  the  "  Confessors,"  as  they  were  called, 
who,  because  of  their  devotion  to  Christianity,  had 
endured  torture,  but  had  escaped  martyrdom. 
Among  these  friends  was  Doscius,  presbyter  of  the 
community  of  which  both  father  and  daughter 
were  members,  who  warmly  commended  the  quiet 
faithfulness  evinced  by  Lucanius  in  the  trial  which 
he  had  undergone. 

Phoebe  said  unto  Doscius:  "  Knowest  thou 
where  the  Presbyter  Epaphras  may  be  found?  or 
knowest  thou  the  way  unto  his  chapel?  " 

And  Doscius  answered:  "Yea;  his  chapel  is 
in  the  catacombs,  upon  the  other  side  of  Rome,  a 
long  distance  out  on  the  Appian  Way." 

"  I  desire  much  to  obtain  speech  of  Dorcas,  the 
140 


PHCEBE  REDEEMETH  HER  PROMISE     141 

daughter  of  Faustina,  who  is  ward  to  Epaphras, 
if  thou  canst  direct  me  to  his  chapel." 

"  If  thou  wilt  go  beyond  the  Tomb  of  the 
Scipios,  along  the  Appian  Way,  not  far  beyond, 
thou  wilt  find  a  vineyard  and  a  cottage  built  of 
sun-dried  bricks,  upon  the  left  hand  of  the  high 
way.  There  dwelleth  an  ancient  man  whose  name 
is  Gregorius,  and  if  thou  wilt  tell  him  that  thou  art 
a  Christian,  he  will  guide  thee  unto  the  chapel  of 
Epaphras." 

On  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  Phoebe,  accom 
panied  by  her  father,  crossed  the  Tiber  at  the 
Bridge  of  Fabricus,  and  passing  by  the  Temples 
of  Fortune  and  Vesta,  the  Circus  Maximus  and 
the  Tarpeian  Rock,  entered  upon  the  Appian  Way, 
which  they  followed  through  the  valley  that  winds 
along  the  base  of  Mount  Aventine  and  Celinus, 
to  a  point  some  distance  beyond  that  indicated  by 
Doscius,  and  soon  found  the  cottage  he  had  de 
scribed,  and  the  aged  Gregorius,  to  whom,  by  cer 
tain  signs  usual  among  them,  they  made  themselves 
known  as  Christians;  and  Gregorius  cheerfully  un 
dertook  to  guide  them  to  the  chapel  of  Epaphras. 
Lucanius  thereupon  returned  to  his  own  home; 
and  Phoebe  followed  the  ancient  a  long  distance, 
and,  finally,  by  one  of  the  many  secret  entrances 
to  the  catacombs,  descended  into  the  mysterious 
recesses,  where  Gregorius  soon  found  and  lighted 
two  small  lamps,  one  of  which  he  gave  to  Phoebe; 


142     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

and  they  thereupon  took  their  way  through  the 
long  subterranean  galleries.  After  several  turns 
and  windings  had  been  passed,  they  heard  the  voice 
of  an  unseen  sentinel  crying  out:  'Walk  ye  by 
faith?  "  to  which  Gregorius  at  once  replied:  "  In 
His  name!"  Then  pausing,  the  old  man  said: 
"  This  maiden  is  a  Christian  who  seeketh  Dorcas, 
the  daughter  of  Faustina.  Knowest  thou  where 
she  may  be  found?  " 

"  I  know  not,"  said  the  sentinel,  "  but  the  women 
who  have  charge  of  our  chapel  can  tell  you." 

"  How  shall  the  maiden  reach  their  abode?" 
said  Gregorius. 

"  Let  her  follow  this  gallery,  and  take  every  one 
that  openeth  into  it  from  the  left.  At  the  fourth 
opening  she  will  find  guides." 

"  Art  thou  afraid  to  go  alone?  "  asked  Grego 
rius. 

"  Nay;  "  replied  Phoebe,  "  for  there  can  be  none 
but  Christians  in  the  catacombs." 

"  Then  fare  thee  well,  daughter,"  said  the  an 
cient. 

"  Many  thanks  for  thy  kindness,"  said  Phoebe, 
"  and  farewell." 

And  then,  bearing  her  little  lamp  carefully,  the 
young  girl  proceeded  upon  her  solitary  way.  It 
was  a  strange  sort  of  confidence,  indeed.  Far  un 
derground,  in  more  than  midnight  darkness,  fenced 
in  upon  either  side  by  long  lines  of  the  nameless 


PHCEBE  REDEEMETH  HER  PROMISE      143 

and  countless  dead  who  slept  in  that  vast  necrop 
olis  —  alone,  bearing  a  flickering  lamp  that 
lighted  the  gloomy  path  only  a  few  feet  in  ad 
vance,  the  young  girl  quietly  went  on  without  the 
sense  of  fear,  because  she  knew  that  there  were 
none  but  Christians  in  that  dreary  labyrinth  —  a 
glorious  commentary  upon  the  character  of  the 
faith  which  she  professed. 

Phoebe  went  forward,  taking  every  left  hand 
opening  in  the  way,  until  she  had  entered  three  of 
them,  and  as  she  drew  nigh  the  fourth,  a  broad 
glare  of  light  shone  across  her  path,  and  looking 
before  her  she  saw  that  in  one  direction  the  gal 
lery  seemed  to  expand  to  greater  width,  and  along 
one  side  thereof  there  ran  a  clear,  small  stream 
of  water,  as  if  some  affluent  spring  discharged 
itself  upon  the  rocky  way;  and  not  far  ahead  of 
her  a  fire  burned  brightly,  over  which  a  huge  cop 
per  kettle  was  boiling,  and  several  women  were 
busy  thereat,  some  of  them  washing  clothes,  and 
some  of  them  cooking  in  various  vessels  at  the 
fire.  A  young  and  beautiful  girl  was  ironing  out 
the  last  of  a  little  heap  of  linen  napkins,  and  upon 
the  table  at  which  she  worked  was  a  plate  bearing 
a  cross  made  of  thin  layers  of  unleavened  bread. 
The  stronger  light  all  about  them  prevented  them 
from  observing  Phoebe  and  her  little  lamp  until 
she  had  come  quite  close  unto  them.  The  young 
girl  was  the  first  to  note  her  coming,  and  looking 


144     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

up  she  said  quietly:     "Walk  thou  by   faith?" 

"  In  His  name,"  answered  Phoebe,  promptly. 
Then  all  of  the  women  saluted  her,  and  the  young 
girl  said:  ;<  Thou  art  welcome,  sister." 

Then  Phoebe  answered:  "I  am  Phoebe,  the 
daughter  of  Lucanius,  a  deacon  of  the  community 
of  Doscius,  beyond  the  Tiber.  I  seek  Dorcas, 
the  daughter  of  Faustina.  Canst  thou  tell  me 
where  she  may  be  found?  " 

"  I  am  that  Dorcas,"  said  the  maiden.  "  I  have 
just  finished  the  preparations  for  the  service  of  to 
morrow;  come  thou  with  me." 

Then  she  laid  the  folded  napkins  upon  her  arm, 
and  taking  the  plate  of  bread  in  her  hand,  she 
passed  along  through  the  gallery,  and  Phoebe,  bear 
ing  her  lamp,  walked  at  her  side.  At  a  short  dis 
tance  they  came  unto  an  opening  of  another  gal 
lery,  over  the  entrance  to  which  hung  a  curtain 
of  heavy  cloth,  and  passing  this  they  entered  a 
large  hall,  lighted  by  a  huge  lamp  suspended  from 
the  rocky  roof,  and  on  either  side  of  this  hall  were 
smaller  chambers  cut  out  of  the  rock,  over  the  en 
trance  of  each  of  which  were  similar  curtains  hang 
ing.  "  Here  we  abide,"  said  Dorcas.  "  Mine 
apartment  is  at  the  end  of  this  hall;  let  us  go 
thither." 

And  when  they  had  gone  thither,  Dorcas  care 
fully  laid  away  the  napkins  and  the  bread  in  a 
wooden  safe  divided  off  by  shelving,  and  placing  a 


PHCEBE  REDEEMETH  HER  PROMISE      145 

chair  for  Phoebe,  invited  her  to  be  seated,  saying : 
"  Our  evening's  meal  will  soon  be  ready.  Thou 
canst  rest  thyself  now,  and  ere  long  sup  with  us." 

And  Phoebe  said:  "I  pray  thee,  sister,  stand 
thou  there  where  the  house-light  will  fall  upon 
thee.  I  desire  to  see  thee  clearly." 

And  gazing  upon  the  maiden  with  a  singular 
expression  of  countenance,  she  continued:  "  Sis 
ter,  thou  art  wondrous  fair;  it  is  not  strange  he 
loveth  thee  so  much." 

"  Of  whom  speakest  thou?  " 

"  Surely  thou  canst  guess." 

"  But  I  will  not  do  so,  sister.  Of  whom  dost 
thou  speak?  " 

"  Of  the  young  centurion,  Marcellus." 

A  pang  of  intense  feeling  nipped  at  the  young 
girl's  heart,  but  the  lifelong  habit  of  self-control 
hardly  permitted  a  trace  of  it  to  appear  in  her  face 
or  voice,  as  she  quietly  answered :  "  Knowest 
thou  the  Roman,  sister?  Dost  thou  come  from 
him?" 

"  Yea,  verily;  and  I  come  hither  only  to  tell  thee 
truly  all  that  I  know  of  him,  and  the  reason  of  my 
seeking  thee." 

Then  Dorcas  seated  herself  beside  Phoebe,  and, 
taking  her  hand,  said: 

"  Sister,  I  am  ready  to  listen  to  thee.  But  is 
the  young  man  well ?  Doth  he  seem  to  be  happy? 
When  didst  thou  see  him  last?" 


146     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

'*  Three  days  ago,"  answered  Phoebe.  "  He  is 
not  ill,  but  is  apparently  in  sore  trouble  because 
of  thy  disappearance  from  his  father's  house.  But 
I  must  tell  thee  all  that  hath  happened."  And 
then,  beginning  with  the  arrest  of  her  father  and 
herself,  she  rapidly,  but  clearly,  narrated  every 
incident  thereof,  and  of  her  brief  acquaintance 
with  Marcellus.  Her  truth,  directness,  and  sen 
sibility  would  be,  perhaps,  impossible  to  a  chaste 
maiden  of  a  later  age  in  the  world's  history,  for 
good-breeding  —  good  form,  as  fashionable  cant 
calleth  it  —  hath  been  largely  substituted  for  gen 
uine  modesty,  and  our  linen-cambric  phylacteries 
of  "  refinement "  have  taken  the  place  of  that 
plain,  unpretentious  holiness  of  heart  and  of  life 
which  neither  knew  nor  cherished  any  unchaste 
purpose  or  desire. 

Before  Phoebe's  narration  was  ended,  the  two 
girls  were  friends,  and  more  than  once  during  her 
recital  they  sat  sobbing  in  each  other's  arms,  and, 
having  given  every  incident,  Phoebe  continued: 
"  And  so,  sister,  if  thou  desirest  to  see  the  cen 
turion  again,  I  am  to  arrange  a  time  and  place  for 
the  interview.  If  thou  desirest  to  write  anything 
unto  him,  I  will  bear  thy  letter.  If  thou  wouldst 
send  any  message  unto  him,  I  will  deliver  it  for 
thee.  If  thou  dost  refuse  to  hold  any  communi 
cation  with  him,  I  will  so  inform  him.  What  wilt 
thou  do,  Dorcas?" 


PHOEBE  REDEEMETH  HER  PROMISE      147 

Dorcas  did  not  immediately  reply,  but  seemed 
to  be  buried  in  very  serious  thought.  At  last  she 
said:  "  I  will  even  consider  the  matter  carefully, 
for  I  know  not  what  I  ought  to  do.  First  thou 
must  sup  with  us,  and  afterward  we  can  converse 
yet  more.  Come  thou  with  me,  sister." 

And  passing  out  into  an  adjoining  hall  they 
found  the  other  women  already  assembled,  and 
having  been  affectionately  welcomed  by  them  — 
all  of  them  —  they  sat  down  to  their  simple  but 
healthful  repast;  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  women 
having  first  given  thanks  to  God  for  the  peace  and 
comfort  in  which  His  providence  permitted  them 
to  live. 

And  afterward  the  two  girls  went  together  a 
short  distance  through  the  catacombs  into  the 
chapel  of  Epaphras,  and  sat  there  together  dis 
cussing  their  affairs;  and  a  strong  friendship  grew 
between  them.  For,  both  of  them  being  Chris 
tians,  there  was  no  possibility  of  the  intervention 
of  those  "  roots  of  bitterness  "  that  spring  up  to 
trouble  even  the  purest  hearts,  under  systems  which 
create  false  social  and  class  distinctions,  based  upon 
those  ideas  of  superiority  that  grow  out  of  idola 
tries  of  birth,  rank,  interest,  property,  and  other 
extraneous  circumstances,  that  have  as  little  to 
do  with  the  character  of  an  individual  as  the  metal 
of  which  a  dog's  collar  is  made  has  to  do  with  the 
nature  of  the  brute;  and,  because  they  both  were 


148      DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

Christians,  each  of  them  attributed  to  the  other 
the  same  simplicity,  unselfishness  and  truth,  the 
same  purity  of  life  and  of  heart,  the  same  desire 
to  understand  and  to  do  that  which  is  right,  which 
she  knew  to  be  the  guiding  purpose  of  her  own 
heart  and  conduct.  Hence,  the  confidence  which 
they  mutually  reposed  in  each  other  was  of  a 
stronger,  truer,  purer  growth  than  more  recent 
civilization  can  produce  or  comprehend;  because 
the  difference  between  the  girls  of  that  period  con 
sisted  in  the  fact  that  some  of  them  were  Chris 
tians  and  some  were  not  Those  who  were  so, 
met  upon  terms  of  equality;  those  who  were  not, 
were  separated  from  each  other  by  the  infinite 
cobwebisms  of  false  distinctions  which  prevailed 
throughout  all  heathenism,  and  were,  for  the  most 
part,  natural  enemies,  each  envying,  suspecting, 
and  hating  the  other;  each  striving  to  defeat  and 
mortify  the  other;  each  seeking  some  advantage 
and  precedence  of  the  other  —  all  of  them  born  to 
an  inheritance  of  social  lies  and  shams,  and  false 
pretenses,  about  which  they  quarreled  and  schemed, 
only  in  a  smaller  more  miserable  way,  than  did 
the  men  under  the  influence  of  the  same  wild-beast 
civilization.  But  these  two  girls  being  both  Chris 
tians,  and  finding  between  themselves  a  similarity 
in  age  and  sentiments  as  to  all  that  nature  creates, 
or  grace  contributes,  to  the  adornment  of  char 
acter,  loved  and  trusted  each  other  from  the  first; 


PHGEBE  REDEEMETH  HER  PROMISE      149 

although  the  hands  and  face  of  Phoebe  showed 
plainly  the  traces  of  her  farm-life  labor,  while 
those  of  Dorcas,  who  had  been  reared  in  the  dark 
ness  of  the  catacombs,  with  lighter  tasks  to  do,  were 
delicate  as  finest  waxwork. 

"  It  is  best,  I  think,"  said  Dorcas,  continuing 
their  pleasant,  confidential  talk,  "  that  I  do  not  see 
him  again,  nor  write  to  him,  nor  send  him  any  mes 
sage,  except  a  single  line  in  order  to  verify  the 
statement  that  thou  hast  seen  me  as  thou  didst 
promise  him." 

"  I  am  not  wise  enough  to  advise  thee,"  an 
swered  Phoebe.  "  But  wouldst  thou,  in  any  case, 
be  the  wife  of  a  Roman?  " 

"  I  know  not.  But  I  would  not  marry  any  man 
that  is  not  a  Christian,  no  matter  what  might  be 
his  nativity  or  rank,  nor  how  highly  I  might  es 
teem  him." 

"  But  dost  thou  remember  that  Paul  saith  the 
unbelieving  husband  may  be  sanctified  by  a  Chris 
tian  wife?" 

"  Yea,"  said  Dorcas;  "but  it  seemeth  to  me 
that  in  that  place  he  speaketh  of  two  who  are  al 
ready  husband  and  wife,  of  whom  one  shall  be 
come  a  Christian,  and  not  of  those  who  are  unmar 
ried." 

"  But  dost  thou  not  believe  that  his  great  love 
for  thee  would  lead  him  to  adopt  thy  faith?  " 

"  That  might  even  be,"  she  said.     "  But  I  have 


150     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

been  taught  that  it  would  be  wrong  to  marry  one 
who  is  not  a  Christian;  and  that  one  may  not 
do  evil  that  good  may  come  of  it." 

"  But  thou  lovest  the  Roman  —  canst  thou  be 
happy  if  thou  shalt  see  his  face  no  more?  " 

"  Perhaps  not  happy,"  answered  Dorcas,  sadly; 
"  but  to  be  free  is  better  than  to  be  happy,  and  I 
shall  be  free;  but  they  who  sacrifice  the  truth  are 
never  free;  they  are  the  slaves  of  that  for  which 
they  have  given  up  the  truth." 

:t  Thou  speakest  of  the  liberty  of  the  gospel?  " 

"  Surely,"  replied  Dorcas,  "  for  the  slavery  of 
the  body  is  an  evil  of  smaller  consequence.  The 
only  real  bondage  is  the  slavery  of  the  soul." 

"  He  saith  he  cannot  live  without  thee,"  said 
Phoebe,  "  and  his  appearance  indicates  that  he 
speaketh  truly.  Thou  knowest  that  the  common 
refuge  of  the  heathen  from  any  sorrow  which 
maketh  them  weary  of  the  world  is  suicide." 

The  young  girl  shuddered  as  her  companion 
spoke  these  words,  knowing  the  fearful  readiness 
with  which  the  pagans  sought  for  that  refuge  from 
any  disappointment,  but  she  murmured :  "  It  is 
easy  for  any  one  to  find  excuses  or  justification 
for  that  course  which  agreeth  well  with  his  own 
wishes;  but  thou  knowest  that  the  question  for  us 
is  never  what  might  please  us  best,  but  is  the 
straight  and  narrow  way  of  present  right  and  duty. 


PHCEBE  REDEEMETH  HER  PROMISE     151 

I  think  that  any  one  who  earnestly  desireth  to  do 
so,  may  find  the  way." 

"  Shall  I  tell  Marcellus  that  if  he  were  a  Chris 
tian  thou  wouldst  be  his  wife?  " 

"  Nay,"  answered  Dorcas.  "  To  be  a  Chris 
tian  would  be  for  him  to  suffer  worldly  sacrifices 
that  none  but  Jesus  hath  the  right  to  demand  of 
any  human  being  —  sacrifices  which  I  would  not 
dare  to  accept  if  he  should  offer  to  make  them. 
Even  to  profess  the  faith  and  adopt  the  forms 
thereof  would  involve  the  loss  of  his  social  posi 
tion  and  political  importance,  his  property  and  in 
fluence  —  and,  perhaps,  his  life  also  —  a  sacrifice 
too  great  to  be  made  for  anything  less  than  the 
love  of  Christ  and  the  sure  promise  of  eternal  life, 
which  alone  outweigh  all  earthly  consideration. 
It  is  better  that  we  never  meet  again." 

"  But  he  would  leave  thee  unobstructed  in  the 
exercise  of  thy  religion,  and  his  influence  might 
serve  to  protect  many  Christians  besides." 

"  But  if  he  remain  a  heathen,  scarce  a  day  could 
pass  us  by  in  which  I  must  not  yield  to  the  idola 
tries  in  which  he  hath  been  reared,  or  else  find 
myself  separated  in  heart  from  him  in  all  the  cere 
monies  of  religion  and  in  all  the  incidents  of  home. 
Such  a  union  is  no  Christian  marriage.  It  is  but 
the  legal  copartnership  of  paganism.  The  diffi 
culties  in  the  way  of  marriage  between  a  Christian 


152     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

and  an  idolater  seem  to  me  to  be  irreconcilable 
and  insuperable." 

"  And  canst  thou  not  find  any  neutral  ground 
between  them,  on  which  both  might  stand  secure?  " 

"  Surely  there  can  be  none.  Honor,  wealth, 
rank,  power,  war,  slavery,  marriages  of  conven 
ience  or  of  interest  —  all  the  aims  and  purposes  of 
life  which  he  hath  been  trained  up  to  regard  as 
best  and  highest  —  seem  criminal  and  sinful  things 
to  me.  Useful  labor,  or  employments  which  he 
esteems  to  be  fit  only  for  slaves,  I  know  to  be  a 
holy  duty  from  which  there  is  no  escaping  without 
sin. 

''  The  faith  on  which  I  rest  my  soul  is  unto 
him  an  impracticable  and  insane  delusion.  Thou 
knowest  that  in  Rome  not  only  all  that  labor  with 
their  hands,  but  all  that  follow  any  useful  pur 
suit  —  their  barbers,  tailors,  bakers,  mechanics, 
teachers;  all,  except  soldiers,  priests  and  lawyers 
—  are  slaves  or  worse  than  slaves.  A  million  of 
people,  who  are  even  less  esteemed  than  the  other 
million,  who  live  upon  the  public  granaries  and  do 
nothing  —  voluntary  paupers  who  care  for  nothing 
except  daily  bread  and  the  games  of  the  circus 
— •  panem  et  circenses,  as  their  own  poet  saith. 
Only  those  employments  which  are  useless  or  per 
nicious  to  mankind  are  deemed  to  be  respectable, 
and  all  other  work  is  left  to  slaves  or  foreigners. 
We,  sister,  have  been  taught  to  despise  all  men 


PHCEBE  REDEEMETH  HER  PROMISE     153 

that  do  not  add  something  useful  to  the  common 
stock.  The  differences  between  Christianity  and 
heathenism  go  down  to  the  very  roots  of  life,  and 
there  can  be  neither  happiness  nor  peace  in  any 
attempt  at  uniting  them  together.  I  must,  there 
fore,  write  unto  Marcellus  that  thou  hast  come 
to  me  according  to  thy  promise,  and  that  I  can 
give  no  answer  except  that  which  I  have  already 
given;  this  shalt  thou  take  to  him  and  nothing 


more." 


"Art  thou  certain,"  said  Phoebe,  "  that  thou 
dost  really  love  this  man?'* 

*  Yea,"  answered  Dorcas,  "  and  with  all  my 
heart.  But  I  love  not  his  idolatry,  nor  his  mode 
of  life.  Nor  do  I  think  that  any  heathen  could 
understand  the  only  love  which  we  could  value, 
or  could  dare  to  trust.  For  their  love,  even,  it 
seemeth  to  me,  is  like  their  religion ;  like  their  po 
litical  and  military  glory;  like  their  magnificent 
highways  and  aqueducts;  like  their  splendid  cities 
and  costly  tombs  —  a  physical  thing  only.  They 
know  the  worth  of  a  sane  mind  in  a  sound  body 
- — the  intellectual  and  sensuous  sides  of  existence — 
but  they  have  no  spiritual  life,  or,  if  any,  it  is  mute 
and  ignorant,  incapable  of  discerning  and  loving 
other  spirits,  incapable  of  expressing  itself.  In 
some  respects,  even  this  most  excellent  Marcellus 
exciteth  my  pity.  He  seemeth  to  be,  in  some 
things,  lower  than  an  infant  —  almost  on  a  level 


154     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

with  the  brutes  —  as  I  think  all  men  would  be  but 
for  the  faith  of  Christ." 

"  How,  then,  is  it  that  thou  lovest  him?  " 

"  That,  indeed,  I  cannot  tell  thee,"  said  Dorcas, 
"  nor  can  I  understand  it.  He  is  a  very  hand 
some  youth;  but  there  must  be  some  handsomer. 
He  is  bright  and  strong;  but  there  must  be  some 
more  excellent.  He  is  brave,  and  true,  and  tender ; 
yet  there  must  be  some  that  are  at  least  his  equal 
in  all  this.  In  his  spiritual  life  he  is  but  a  child; 
and  yet  there  must  be,  even  of  his  age,  some  full- 
grown,  glorious  Christian  men.  And  yet,  in  my 
heart,  I  love  him  far  more  than  I  could  love  any 
man  on  earth.  All  my  heart  goes  out  to  him 
alone,  and  I  could  live  or  die  alike  to  bring  him 
happiness,  and  for  him  would  think  naught  too 
great  a  sacrifice,  except  the  faith  of  Jesus.  Ah, 
Phoebe,  it  is  so  strange,  so  sad,  so  sweet,  so  pitiful ! 
I  know  not  how  it  is  that  of  all  men  on  earth,  I  do 
love  only  him." 

"  I  have  met  no  Roman  of  high  rank  but  him," 
said  Phoebe;  "those  whom  I  have  known  among 
the  working  people  seem  to  belong  unto  a  different 
race  of  men." 

"  The  higher  classes  of  them,"  said  Dorcas, 
"  are  little  better  than  intellectual  brutes,  and  the 
lower  classes  are  brutes  of  lower  intelligence.  But 
Christians,  even  those  who  cannot  read  nor  write, 
are  gentle,  refined,  attractive." 


PHCEBE  REDEEMETH  HER  PROMISE      155 

"What  causeth  this  vast  difference?" 
"  I  have  heard  the  learned  Epaphras  declare 
that  this  condition  of  things  is  the  necessary  result 
of  all  human  governments  over  a  people.  He 
saith  often  that  governments  which  recognize  war, 
slavery,  private  property  rights,  rank,  title,  pre 
rogatives,  never  did,  and  never  can,  do  anything 
better  for  mankind  than  to  produce  a  ruling  class 
at  the  top,  to  whom  all  the  advantages  of  civiliza 
tion  accrue,  and  an  oppressed  or  enslaved  people 
at  the  bottom,  upon  which  fall  all  the  burdens  of 
the  world,  and  some  form  of  ecclesiasticism  be 
tween  these  two  extremes,  seeking  to  adjust  mutual 
rights  and  duties  by  arms  and  religion.  He  saith 
that  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  alone  can  ever  give 
liberty  to  the  great  multitudes  of  men,  and  that 
even  the  persecuted  Christians  are  the  only  people 
that  ever  taste  the  sweetness  of  real  personal  free 
dom;  and  that  the  Church  will  make  all  people 
free,  by  abolishing  the  laws  which  enslave  and  de 
grade  them.  He  said  that  our  Lord,  although  he 
addressed  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  only,  really 
meant  every  ruling  class  on  earth,  when  he  de 
nounced  those  who  bind  heavy  burdens  for  other 
men's  shoulders  which  they  themselves  would  not 
touch  with  a  little  finger;  and  that  the  ruling 
classes,  no  matter  by  what  name  designated,  will 
always  so  bind  the  poor,  until  the  masses  of  man 
kind  shall  become  Christians,  and  by  the  power 


156     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

of  faith  abolish  war,  slavery,  and  Mammon  wor 
ship,  which  are  instruments  of  tyranny." 

"  I  know  not  how  that  may  be,"  said  Phoebe. 
'  We  came  hither  from  the  Bridge  of  Fabricus, 
and  along  the  Appian  Way,  through  the  most 
densely  populated  portion  of  Rome,  and  there  was 
a  mighty  contrast,  truly,  between  the  palaces  of 
the  great  and  wealthy  and  the  vast  multitude  that 
scarcely  live  by  labor,  and  the  yet  greater  multitude 
of  Romans  that  are  too  proud  to  work  and  afraid 
to  steal,  and  content  to  live  in  idleness,  drawing 
their  support  from  the  public  granaries.  I  know 
not  the  causes  of  it,  but  it  seems  to  me  to  be  a 
fearful  and  a  shameful  thing." 

"  This  cruel  and  infamous  state  of  Rome, 
Epaphras  declareth  to  be  the  condition  of  all  great 
cities,  and  that  it  is  everywhere  the  net  result  of 
the  science  of  government,  and  that  there  can 
never  be  any  permanent  escape  therefrom,  except 
on  the  basis  of  our  common  church.  Thinkest 
thou,  Phoebe,  that  a  woman  that  is  a  Christian 
could  conscientiously  be  the  wife  of  any  man  whose 
highest  perception  of  life  and  duty  is  to  preserve, 
enforce,  and  work  out  unto  its  legitimate  results, 
such  a  system  as  this  ?  Surely  it  must  be  true  that 
the  less  a  Roman  noble  and  a  Christian  girl  see  of 
each  other  the  better  for  the  peace  of  both.  But 
it  groweth  late.  Thou  must  abide  with  me  until 


PHGEBE  REDEEMETH  HER  PROMISE      157 

after  services  to-morrow,  and  as  much  longer  as 
thou  canst.     Come  with  me." 

And,  so  they  returned  unto  the  great  hall,  and 
rejoined  the  other  women,  and  after  simple  but 
earnest  religious  services,  they  sought  their  sleep 
ing-rooms,  which  opened  from  the  hall  on  every 
side.  For,  although  there  was  no  difference  be 
tween  day  and  night  in  their  subterranean  home, 
they  divided  the  hours  between  the  duties  incum 
bent  upon  them,  just  as  those  did  who  lived  above 
ground  —  so  many  to  sleep,  so  many  to  toil,  so 
many  to  religion,  so  many  to  reading  and  conver 
sation  —  and  their  hidden  life  was  peaceful  and 
pleasant  enough,  and  on  the  next  day,  which  was 
Sunday,  they  went  together  to  the  services  at  which 
Marcellus  was  to  be  so  strangely  present. 


CHAPTER  XII 

IN  WHICH  THE  GOSPEL  IS  STATED  AS  IT  WAS  IN 
A.    D.    312 

A  FTER  Epaphras  had  blessed  them,  as  re- 
•**•  lated  at  the  close  of  the  Christian  services 
in  the  subterranean  chapel,  the  congregation  began 
to  take  up  their  lamps,  and  to  depart  by  the  various 
galleries  that  led  into  the  chapel,  and  the  centurion 
was  resolved  not  to  go  thence  until  he  had  seen 
and  spoken  to  Dorcas ;  but  he  did  not  desire  to  be 
discovered  in  the  act  of  listening  to  the  strange 
and  awful  scenes  which  he  had  just  witnessed. 
There  was  no  time,  however,  for  deliberation,  and 
with  that  celerity  of  action  and  decision  which  is 
part  of  the  military  education  and  character,  he 
took  the  hilt  of  his  sword  in  both  hands,  and  draw 
ing  up  his  toga,  so  as  to  conceal  both  his  face  and 
the  weapon,  he  dropped  upon  his  knees,  with  his 
face  to  the  wall,  his  head  bowed  upon  his  hands, 
so  that  by  glancing  sideways  he  could  still  see  Dor 
cas  sitting  in  the  chapel,  and  the  young  girl,  Phoebe, 
sitting  beside  her;  wherefore  the  centurion  knew 
that  she  had  been  faithful  to  her  contract  with 
him.  Although  his  own  accidental  discovery  of 

158 


THE  GOSPEL  IS  STATED  159 

the  chapel  forestalled  the  visit  which  she  had  prom 
ised  to  make  to  him  upon  the  evening  of  that  same 
day,  he  was  not  the  less  pleased  by,  and  grateful 
for,  this  proof  of  her  fidelity. 

Quietly  the  congregation  dispersed,  many  of 
them  passing  through  the  gallery  in  which  he 
kneeled;  but  to  them  the  sight  of  a  man  upon  his 
knees  anywhere  near  those  sacred  precincts  was  an 
every-day  occurrence,  and  no  one  accosted,  or  even 
seemed  to  notice  him.  Soon  he  saw  the  presbyter 
go  over  to  where  Dorcas  sat,  and  take  a  seat  be 
side  her,  and  he  rightly  judged  that  all  the  rest 
had  gone,  and  that  the  presbyter  was  that  Epa- 
phras  of  whom  he  had  heard  Dorcas  speak.  The 
centurion  gazed  upon  the  young  girl's  perfect  face 
with  profoundest  love  and  admiration,  and  it 
seemed  to  him  that  he  lived  again,  after  long  weeks 
of  care  and  apathy  like  death.  Then  he  arose, 
and  advancing  quickly  to  the  threshold  of  the 
chapel,  he  saw  that  both  Dorcas  and  the  presbyter 
observed  his  approach,  and  then  he  darted  for 
ward,  and,  raising  the  maiden's  hand,  he  bowed, 
and  kissed  it  passionately,  exclaiming:  "  O,  dar 
ling,  I  have  found  thee  at  last,  thank  all  the  gods 
at  once !  Why  didst  thou  so  cruelly  leave  me, 
Dorcas?  Every  day  have  I  sought  thee  sorrow 
ing,  and  every  hour  I  pined  to  see  thy  face,  until 
the  great  grief  of  thine  absence  is  wearying  out 
my  heart,  and  wasting  all  my  strength  1  But  I 


160     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

have  found  thee  at  last,  and  them  shalt  pass  out 
of  my  sight  no  more  unless  thou  promise  I  shall 
see  thee  again,  or  unless  thou  leave  this  dreary 
place  and  go  back  to  my  father's  house  with  me." 

At  the  first  pause  in  the  impulsive  torrent  of  his 
speech,  the  girl  arose,  with  quiet  dignity,  and  said : 
"  Centurion,  this  is  the  presbyter,  Epaphras,  my 
guardian  and  friend.  And  this,  father,  is  that  cen 
turion,  Marcellus,  of  whom  I  have  told  thee." 

Recalled  to  himself  by  her  grave  and  quiet  de 
meanor,  the  centurion  saluted  Epaphras  respect 
fully,  and  said:  "  Thou  must  pardon  my  want  of 
courtesy,  for  I  have  suffered  so  long,  and  was  so 
rejoiced  to  find  Dorcas  again  that  I  could  think  of 
naught  else." 

And  turning  unto  Phoebe,  the  young  man  said 
kindly:  "  I  rejoice  to  see  thee,  Phoebe,  knowing 
well  that  thy  presence  here  is  a  proof  of  thy  truth 
and  faithfulness.  And  I  beg  of  thee  to  believe 
that  I  do  entertain  for  thee  all  the  respect  and 
friendship  which  is  due  to  girls  who  can  be  kind 
and  faithful,  and  that  cannot  soil  their  lips  with 
any  false  promise." 

And  Phoebe  took  the  hand  which  Marcellus  ex 
tended  to  her,  and  answered:  ''  Truly,  I  came  to 
Dorcas  as  I  had  promised  thee,  centurion;  and  she 
did  agree  to  write  unto  thee  a  letter,  which  I  was 
to  have  carried  to  thee,  but  thy  coming  unex 
pectedly  hath  marred  our  little  plans.  So  that 


THE  GOSPEL  IS  STATED  161 

thou  and  Dorcas  must  take  the  quarrel  into  your 
own  hands,  and  leave  me  out  of  it.  I  bid  you 
both  good-by,  and  shall  even  pray  often  for  the 
happiness  of  both."  And,  nothwithstanding  that 
they  pressed  her  to  remain,  Phoebe  lighted  her  lit 
tle  lamp  and  quietly  departed.  Epaphras  asked 
him  to  be  seated,  and  then  said:  "  Where  be  thy 
companions?  or  didst  thou  come  alone?" 

"  I  am  entirely  alone,"  replied  Marcellus,  "  or 
rather  I  followed  close  behind  an  aged  woman, 
who  unknowingly  showed  me  the  way." 

The  presbyter  seemed  much  relieved  by  this 
information,  and  said:  "  Thou  art  very  wel 
come,  and  so  are  all  that  may  come  peaceably." 

Then  Dorcas,  whose  hand  he  held  and  would 
not  relinquish,  gazed  on  his  haggard  face  with 
tender,  gleaming  eyes,  and  spoke  to  him,  saying: 
"  Centurion,  how  didst  thou  find  the  way  hither?  " 

Then  he  said:  "Every  moment  since  thou 
didst  forsake  us  I  have  thought  of  thee  only,  and 
day  by  day  I  sought  to  find  thee.  From  the  in 
formation  I  did  gather  from  many  different 
sources,  I  thought  the  path  which  thou  didst  fol 
low  must  be  through  that  thicket  in  which,  after 
weary  days  of  watching,  I  finally  discovered  the 
entrance  to  this  place  by  dogging  the  footsteps 
of  an  aged  woman  who  came  that  way  this  morn 
ing.  Dorcas,  if  I  had  found  thee  not  I  would 
have  died!" 


1 62     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

;i  Wert  thou,  then,  in  sight  and  hearing  of  the 
religious  services  of  this  little  band  of  Christians 
from  the  time  at  which  she  whom  thou  didst  fol 
low  entered  here  ?  "  inquired  Epaphras. 

1  Yea;  I  heard  and  saw  all  that  occurred!  " 

"  And  didst  thou  behold  any  of  those  infamous 
and  unholy  ceremonies  which  the  Romans  of  thy 
class  attribute  to  the  secret  assemblies  of  the  Chris 
tians?" 

"  Nay,"  replied  Marcellus;  "  I  cannot  imagine 
a  form  of  divine  service  more  simple,  sweet  and 
pure,  or  more  acceptable  to  any  holy  God.  But 
the  last,  the  Anastasis !  That  was  a  thing  so  very 
marvelous,  so  overwhelmingly  grand  and  sublime 
in  its  simplicity,  that  my  mind  is  stupefied  by  the 
event,  and  I  can  with  difficulty  credit  my  senses, 
which  do  assure  me  that  I  saw  it  I  Was  the  man 
truly  dead?" 

"  Ask  thy  father,  the  Vice-Prefect  Varus, 
whether  on  yesterday  evening  the  head  of  the 
Christian  Charis  was  not  given  to  his  friends  in 
one  basket  and  his  body  in  another?  " 

"  It  is  an  astounding  fact,"  said  Marcellus. 
"  I  cannot  realize  it.  It  transcends  the  power  of 
magic." 

"  Didst  thou  see  any  magic  used,  except  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ?  " 

"  Nay,  truly,"  said  Marcellus,  "  I  saw  the 
Anastasis;  but  its  very  simplicity  seems  to  demon- 


THE  GOSPEL  IS  STATED  163 

strate  its  impossibility.  Do,  then,  Christians,  in 
deed,  by  faith  in  His  name,  suspend  or  annul 
natural  laws  at  their  own  will?  " 

"  Nay,  verily,"  answered  Epaphras,  "  but  God 
so  made  the  world  that  faith  in  Christ  is  sufficient 
for  the  justification  of  a  sinner,  and  so  that  the 
faith  of  the  church,  organized  in  accordance  with 
His  will  and  obeying  His  commandments,  hath 
force  to  raise  the  dead,  and  to  do  many  other 
marvelous  works,  and  we  Christians  believe  that, 
as  the  winds  blow  or  the  rain  falleth  by  His  will, 
so  do  these  works  occur.  But  didst  thou  witness 
aught  in  all  our  service  that  can  justify  the  Roman 
law  which  persecuteth  us  even  unto  death?" 

"  Nothing,"  cried  Marcellus,  "  and  henceforth 
my  efforts  shall  not  be  spared  to  put  an  end  to 
punishments  so  unprovoked  and  so  unjust.  In 
deed,  I  cannot  understand  how  conduct  so  injuri 
ous  to  a  harmless  people  ever  came  to  have  the 
sanction  of  the  Roman  law?  " 

"  That  I  will  even  now  explain  to  thee,"  said 
Epaphras.  "  Three  hundred  years  ago,  the  Jews 
who  were  expecting  the  coming  of  Messias,  son  of 
the  One  True  God,  were  so  blinded  by  their  own 
pride,  and  ambition  and  selfishness,  that  they  sup- 
posed  He  would  come  in  power  and  great  glory 
to  overthrow  their  enemies  and  make  Jerusalem 
the  chief  city  of  the  world;  although  their  own 
prophets  had  foretold  that  He  would  come  as  a 


1 64     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with  grief;  poor, 
despised  and  afflicted;  and  when  He  did  so  come, 
teaching  the  brotherhood  of  man,  teaching  that 
war  was  crime,  and  ought  to  cease,  and  that  no 
Christian  should  bear  arms  in  any  cause;  teach 
ing  that  slavery  is  sin  against  our  fellow-men,  who 
are,  indeed,  our  own  brethren;  teaching  com 
munism  of  property  and  rights,  as  the  only  safe 
guard  of  the  many  against  the  superior  intelli 
gence,  selfishness,  and  rapacity  of  the  few,  who 
always  plunder  and  oppress  the  multitudes;  teach 
ing  that  marriage  is  a  holy  sacrament,  founded 
upon  mutual  affection  and  consent,  and  that  di 
vorce  is  sinful,  and  destructive  of  society;  teaching, 
in  a  word,  that  His  kingdom,  instead  of  being 
only  a  greater  tyrant  and  warrior  than  any  other 
kingdom,  as  they  desired,  should,  indeed,  be  a 
democracy,  pure  and  simple,  social  and  political, 
based  upon  faith  and  communism,  in  which  the 
family  should  be  the  foundation,  and  the  Church 
the  superstructure,  of  society.  The  Scribes  and 
Pharisees,  who  were  the  rich,  official,  respectable 
classes  of  the  Jews,  and  covetous  of  property  and 
rank,  accused  Him  of  sedition,  and  instigated  the 
Romans  to  crucify  Him;  which  they  did,  in  the 
days  of  Pontius  Pilate,  in  accordance  with  the 
declarations  of  the  prophets.  The  Roman  em 
perors,  from  Tiberius  until  this  very  day,  have 
persecuted  the  Christians  for  teaching  and  practi- 


THE  GOSPEL  IS  STATED  165 

cing  the  gospel  of  Jesus.  The  brotherhood  of  all 
men,  the  denial  of  the  right  of  the  Christians  to 
bear  arms,  the  manumission  of  the  slaves,  the 
holding  of  all  property  in  common,  the  abroga 
tion  of  all  social  and  political  distinctions  between 
men,  and  classes  of  men,  that  they  may  be  one 
in  Christ.  The  elevating  of  monogamic  marriage 
into  a  sacrament,  and  the  prohibition  of  divorce. 
These  principles,  based  upon  and  enforced  by 
faith,  constitute  the  Christian  democracy.  These 
are  the  laws  and  the  customs  which  the  Christians 
keep  as  religion,  and  are  those  which  the  Romans 
have  always  condemned  and  punished,  as  '  a  dire 
and  malevolent  superstition;'  as  inspired  'by 
hatred  of  the  human  race; '  as  (  contrary  to  reason 
and  nature; '  as  *  extravagant  laws  and  opinions; ' 
as  *  a  criminal  association.'  But  thou  canst  see, 
centurion,  that  no  man  is  compelled  to  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  Heaven?  It  is,  and  must  be,  his 
own  voluntary  act.  And  thou  seest  that  this  faith 
is  peaceable  and  pure." 

"  Surely,"  said  Marcellus.  "  But  why  do  you 
not  go  into  the  forum,  and  into  the  Senate,  and 
boldly  proclaim  this  faith  and  demand  recognition 
therefor  at  the  hands  of  the  emperor  and  the 
law?" 

"  Ah,"  said  Epaphras,  "  dost  thou  believe  that 
they  who  constitute  the  ruling  classes  at  Rome 
would  permit  the  public  preaching  of  the  gospel 


166     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

of  Christ,  that  teaches  the  fundamental  truth  that 
all  men  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  equal  before 
God,  consciousness  and  law?  Or  dost  thou  think 
that  a  rich  man,  except  under  the  power  of 
dominant,  all-controlling  faith,  can  overcome  his 
selfishness,  which  is  fortified  behind  the  ramparts 
of  civil  and  municipal  law,  so  far  as  to  seek  ad 
mission  into  the  Church  of  Christ,  which  holds  all 
property  in  common  and  requires  as  a  condition  of 
admission  the  transfer  of  the  believer's  estate  unto 
the  common  church?  Or  dost  thou  suppose  that 
they  who  hold  their  fellow-men  as  slaves,  and  de 
rive  honor,  consequence,  convenience  and  wealth 
from  this  unjust  ownership,  would  permit  men  to 
teach  publicly  as  divine  truth,  and  as  the  final  ut 
terance  of  law,  philosophy  and  statesmanship,  the 
gospel  of  Christ,  which  denies  the  master's  title, 
manumits  the  slave,  and  raises  the  chattel  to 
equality  with  other  men,  making  him  '  no  more  as 
a  slave,  but  as  a  brother  beloved'?  Dost  thou 
not  see  that  if  all  Romans  could  be  led  to  adopt 
this  faith,  the  false  and  cruel  social  and  political 
distinctions  which  are  based  on  rank  and  wealth 
and  power  would  fade  out  of  the  empire?  Dost 
thou  not  see  that  if  any  man  does  in  his  heart  be 
lieve  that  the  safety  of  his  soul  and  the  welfare  of 
his  fellow-men  depend  upon  the  acceptance  of  this 
faith,  he  will  then  bestow  his  property  upon  the 
common  church  and  become  the  brother  of  all 


THE  GOSPEL  IS  STATED  167 

believers?  And  it  is  for  that  reason  we  Chris 
tians  pray,  saying,  '  Give  us  daily  bread  sufficient 
for  daily  use.'  We  have  no  authority  to  pray  for 
more,  seeing  that  all  that  is  over  goeth  into  the 
common  stock.  Dost  thou  not  perceive  that  if 
this  gospel,  which  is  4  good  news  '  to  the  poor, 
could  be  publicly  proclaimed,  all  the  poor  and  all 
the  slaves  would  take  the  kingdom  of  heaven  by 
storm?  Dost  thou  not  see  that  the  triumph  of 
this  gospel  would  abrogate  the  laws  that  maintain 
the  idolatries  of  wealth,  and  rank,  and  property, 
and  the  power  and  influence  of  the  robbers,  usurers 
and  extortioners  who  oppress  the  multitudes? 
Nay,  verily,  they  crucified  our  Lord  and  have  per 
secuted  the  church  from  that  day  until  now  be 
cause,  and  only  because,  they  do  not  desire  the 
common  good,  the  general  welfare,  the  public 
safety,  prosperity  and  happiness  of  all,  but  prefer 
their  own  covetous  desires  for  selfish  aggrandize 
ment,  ease  and  power,  to  the  regeneration  of  man 
kind^ 

The  presbyter's  sweet  voice  swelled  into  grand, 
sonorous  utterances,  and  his  face  grew  bright  with 
holy  earnestness  and  zeal  as  he  proceeded  with 
his  exposition  of  the  gospel.  Dorcas  sat  quietly, 
while  Marcellus  listened,  strongly  moved  and  in 
terested. 

"  But  how  knowest  thou,"  he  said,  "  that  these 
teachings  of  thy  Christ,  these  laws  of  His  King- 


168      DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

dom,  are  divinely  true  and  right,  and  obligatory 
upon  all  men  ?  " 

"  I  know  this,"  answered  Epaphras,  "  as  thou 
canst  not  yet  know  it.  But  thou  mayest  test  their 
verity  by  one  safe  rule:  *  Do  unto  others  as  thou 
wouldst  have  them  do  unto  you.'  ' 

"  Let  me  understand  that,"  said  Marcellus. 
"  If  I  would  not  wish  to  be  degraded  into  slavery 
myself  I  must  not  own  a  slave !  If  that  rule  were 
carried  out  in  all  things,  truly  it  would  cut  very 
deep !  —  and  yet  it  seemeth  right  and  just 
enough." 

"  Yea,"  said  Epaphras,  "  and  if  thou  wilt  seek 
with  honest  manliness  and  courage  to  measure  all 
things  —  social,  political  and  religious,  both  gov 
ernments  and  men  —  by  that  one  rule  thou  shalt 
grow  in  knowledge  of  the  truth.  But  it  is  time 
that  I,  and  Dorcas  also,  go  hence  to  other  duties 
that  claim  our  attention.  Centurion,  thou  seemest 
an  honorable  man,  and  I  desire  thee  to  be  on  thy 
guard  lest  some  carelessness  on  thy  part  may  make 
thy  discovery  of  our  place  of  meeting  lead  to  vex 
ation  of  my  faithful  church." 

"  Thy  warning  is  hardly  necessary,"  replied 
Marcellus,  "  for  I  respect  and  esteem  thee  might 
ily,  and  I  would  protect  Dorcas  to  the  death.  In 
fact,  I  came  hither  only  to  seek  her,  and  to  bear 
her  away  or  perish  in  attempting  it;  but  I  confess 
to  thee  that  my  mind  is  much  changed  in  many 


THE  GOSPEL  IS  STATED  169 

things,  and  even  in  this  resolve  also.  But  Dorcas, 
my  life,  my  darling,"  he  cried,  with  that  look  of 
tender,  pleading  love  which  she  found  it  so  hard 
to  resist,  "  I  cannot  leave  thee,  and  I  will  not,  un 
less  thou  promise  that  I  may  see  thee  again  and 
speedily." 

Dorcas  turned  unto  the  presbyter,  saying: 
"  Father,  may  he  not  come  hither  on  next  Sabbath 
morning?  " 

The  presbyter  sighed  deeply  enough,  but  an 
swered:  "  Come  thou  hither  on  the  Seventh 
morning  hence,  centurion;  but  go  thou  now  in 
peace?  " 

"  Verily,"  replied  Marcellus,  "  it  is  not  possible 
for  me  to  find  my  way  back  whence  I  came.  Let 
Dorcas  guide  me  into  that  gallery  which  leadeth 
unto  the  entrance  by  which  I  came." 

Epaphras  seemed  annoyed  and  perplexed  at  his 
request,  but  the  girl  turned  to  the  centurion  and 
laid  her  little  hand  lightly  upon  his  arm,  and  gaz 
ing  into  his  eyes  with  eyes  in  which  beamed  the 
soft  light  of  mighty  love  and  trust,  she  said,  most 
sweetly:  "Once  thou  didst  make  Dorcas  flee 
away  from  thee  in  mortal  terror;  but  now,  cen 
turion,  is  she  not  safe  with  thee?" 

And  the  young  man's  eyes  grew  bright  with 
tears  of  tenderness,  as  he  replied:  '  Yea,  by  my 
soul,  as  safe  as  if  thy  mother  held  thee  in  her 
arms!" 


1 70     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

Then  the  young  girl  took  up  her  lamp,  and 
gave  Marcellus  another,  and  placing  her  hand  in 
his,  she  said:  "  Come  on,  centurion;  I  will  be 
your  guide.'* 

The  proud  Roman  youth  respectfully  saluted 
Epaphras,  then,  hand  in  hand,  the  twain  walked 
on  through  the  vast  solitude  and  darkness  of  the 
catacombs. 

"  Dear  Dorcas,"  he  said,  "  why  dost  thou  leave 
me  so?  If  thou  wilt  come  back  to  me,  thou  needst 
not  offer  sacrifice  to  any  god  of  Rome;  but  I  will 
build  thee  a  beautiful  chapel,  and  Epaphras  and 
thy  friends  shall  worship  in  thine  own  way,  under 
the  protection  of  my  father.  Darling,  wilt  thou 
not  come?  I  cannot  live  without  thee!" 

But  Dorcas  said,  with  profound  tenderness: 
"  Let  us  not  talk  of  that  just  now !  I  do  not  think 
thou  yet  understandest  what  we  Christian  maidens 
mean  by  love !  " 

And  so  they  walked  on,  until  they  reached  the 
gallery  that  led  to  the  entrance  by  which  the  cen 
turion  had  come. 

Pausing  here,  the  young  girl  said:  "I  leave 
thee  now.  Thy  way  is  in  this  gallery,  and  thou 
canst  not  stray  from  it.  When  thou  comest  where 
the  light  of  day  showeth  across  thy  path,  extin 
guish  thy  lamp,  and  set  it  upon  any  projection  of 
the  rock  which  thou  may'st  find.  When  thou 
comest  near  the  entrance,  first  look  about  thee  care- 


THE  GOSPEL  IS  STATED  171 

fully,  and  go  not  forth  if  any  one  be  in  sight  of 
thee.  Be  careful  not  to  let  fall  any  word  that 
might  lead  us  into  trial.  Come  on  the  morning 
of  the  Seventh  day,  and  I  will  meet  thee,  and  con 
duct  thee  to  the  chapel.  Now  bend  down  thy 
head  to  me,"  and  as  he  complied  with  her  request, 
she  laid  her  arm  lightly  round  his  neck  and  kissed 
him  tenderly,  then  turned  away,  and  went  swiftly 
back. 

The  young  man  sought  not  to  detain  her  —  did 
not  call  her  back  —  but  watched  her  lovingly  as 
she  glided  swiftly  away  into  the  darkness,  and  a 
mighty  joy  came,  wave-like,  over  his  spirit,  and 
he  said  to  himself  that  the  kiss  which  she  had  left 
upon  his  lips  was  the  seal  of  a  higher  love  and 
confidence  than  he  had  ever  before  dreamed  of, 
and  that  he  would  prove  worthy  of  the  trust  she 
had  reposed  in  him. 

Then,  resuming  his  journey,  he  went  on  to  the 
entrance,  happy  with  the  faint  but  exquisite  dawn 
of  a  happiness  different  from  all  that  he  had  ever 
known  before. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

BIRDS,    BEASTS  AND   ORACLES   THAT   PROPHESY 

TN  the  meantime,  Maxentius,  the  Emperor  of 
•*•  Rome,  having  heard  vague  rumors  of  the  pur 
pose  of  Constantine,  who  was  then  in  Gaul,  to 
reclaim  the  empire  by  force  of  arms,  determined 
to  make  every  possible  effort  to  wage  a  successful 
war,  and  to  add  Gaul  and  Germany  to  his  own 
dominions  rather  than  to  surrender  the  sovereignty 
of  Italy,  and  limit  his  imperial  claims  to  Spain 
and  western  Africa.  He  was  a  thorough  pagan 
in  every  thought,  purpose  and  desire  of  his  soul, 
and  was  consequently  the  dupe  of  the  priests  who 
administered  the  religion  of  Rome.  First  of  all, 
being  terribly  afraid  to  engage  in  war  with  Con 
stantine,  and  desiring  to  fortify  his  courage  by 
such  confidence  as  superstition  could  generate  in 
the  heart  of  a  heathen  emperor,  he  secretly  con 
sulted  the  haruspices,  auguries  and  oracles,  and 
having  construed  all  of  their  divinations  to  be 
favorable  to  himself  and  his  purpose,  with  good 
hopes  he  entered  upon  the  work  of  preparation 
for  the  impending  war  with  Constantine.  But 
not  only  did  he  desire  to  be  assured  in  his  own 

172 


BIRDS,  BEASTS  AND  ORACLES          173 

mind  that  the  gods  were  propitious  unto  him,  he 
desired,  also,  to  impress  upon  the  whole  Roman 
people  the  conviction  that  the  immortals  had 
solemnly  pledged  all  heaven  to  give  him  the 
victory  in  the  approaching  contest.  For  this 
purpose  he  caused  proclamation  to  be  made 
throughout  the  city  that  upon  a  day  appointed  the 
Emperor  would  go  in  solemn  state  to  the  Temple 
of  the  Jupiter  of  the  Capitol  to  consult  the  Pon- 
tifex  Maximus,  and  have  him  publicly  announce 
the  divine  will  in  regard  to  the  issue  of  the  war 
which  seemed  to  all  of  them  to  be  inevitable.  It 
happened  that  the  day  named  by  Maxentius  was 
the  Wednesday  after  that  Sabbath  upon  which 
Marcellus  had  discovered  the  retreat  in  which  the 
maiden,  Dorcas,  abode,  and  had  conversed  with 
her  and  Epaphras,  as  hath  been  already  narrated. 
The  young  man  was  dimly  self-conscious  that  the 
idolatry  of  Rome  was  losing  its  life-long  hold  upon 
his  intellect  and  conscience,  but  the  process  of  dis 
enchantment  was  so  gradual  and  indefinite  that  he 
had  no  clear  perception  of  it;  and  so  when  the 
Emperor  and  the  great  men  of  Rome,  proconsuls, 
consuls,  prefects,  senators,  aediles,  all  persons  of 
patrician  rank,  all  officers  of  the  legions  stationed" 
in  and  near  the  city,  "  and  all  Romans  who  were 
well-disposed  toward  the  most  holy  Emperor 
Maxentius  "  were  solemnly  warned  to  observe  the 
day,  and  to  participate  in  the  sacred  ceremonies 


174     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

by  which  the  Emperor  sought  to  learn  the  will  of 
the  gods  concerning  him,  the  young  centurion,  like 
the  other  young  men  of  his  own  rank,  joined  the 
solemn  procession  that  wended  its  way  up  to  the 
Capitoline  Hill,  upon  which  stood  the  vast  temple 
dedicated  to  the  Jupiter  of  the  Capitol. 

It  was  a  grand,  impressive,  and  beautiful 
pageant.  The  Emperor  went  first  on  horseback, 
accompanied  by  his  favorites  of  the  palace,  all 
clad  in  magnificent  and  variegated  costumes  ap 
propriate  to  their  different  official  stations  about 
the  person  of  the  Emperor.  Then  followed  pro 
consuls,  consuls,  aediles,  and  prefects  on  foot  •> —  a 
throng  of  splendid  men  distinguished  by  mighty 
deeds  done  for  Imperial  Rome  in  every  quarter 
of  the  then  known  world.  Then  came  the  august 
senators  in  solemn  black,  the  severe  and  classic 
lines  of  the  senatorial  toga  agreeing  well  with  their 
most  grave  and  reverent  demeanor.  Then  fol 
lowed  in  dense  array,  and  in  all  the  panoply  of 
war,  the  officials  and  men  of  the  legions,  bearing 
standards  which  in  other  days  they  had  advanced 
to  victory  in  the  fierce  storm  of  battle  in  almost 
every  province  of  the  empire.  After  these  came  a 
mighty  procession  of  wealthy  and  influential  citi 
zens,  representing  every  grade  and  occupation 
known  in  the  most  populous  and  busy  city  in  the 
world;  and  the  long  procession  ended  with  a  vast 
and  indistinguishable  crowd  of  plebeians,  all  of 


BIRDS,  BEASTS  AND  ORACLES  175 

whom,  high  and  low,  bore  gifts  unto  the  temple, 
each  according  to  rank  and  station,  to  propitiate 
the  gods. 

Long  before  the  hour  of  noon  the  hill  was 
covered  by  the  restless  human  sea  that  rolled  away 
on  every  side,  and  surged  over  into  the  adjacent 
streets  and  vacant  lots.  All  the  vast  area  of  the 
temple  —  at  one  end  of  which  Maxentius  and  his 
immediate  attendants  stood  upon  a  slightly  ele 
vated  platform,  while  at  the  other  appeared  the 
altar  and  the  statue  of  the  god,  far  above  which 
was  a  covered  balcony  for  the  vestal  virgins  — 
was  confusedly  crowded  by  the  highest  dignitaries 
of  the  Roman  state,  both  civil  and  military,  and 
by  as  many  of  those  whom  their  rank,  or  some 
special  permission  allowed  to  intermingle  with 
them,  as  could  find  space  on  which  to  stand. 

The  splendid  altar  glowed  with  various  flames, 
and  clouds  of  incense  rose  and  filled  the  place 
while  slowly  drifting  upward  to  the  roof.  Then 
from  the  lofty  balcony  on  which  they  stood  con 
cealed  by  delicatest  lattice  work  the  vestal  virgins 
chanted  that  lofty  hymn  which  Callimachus,  of 
Cyrene,  composed  in  honor  of  the  mighty  Jove, 
and  the  sweet  cadence  of  the  mellifluous  Greek 
verses  wandered  like  angel  voices  all  through  the 
mighty  temple.  Then  swinging  the  sacred  censers 
with  many  graceful  genuflections  before  the  statue 
of  the  god,  the  Pontifex  Maximus,  clad  in  gor- 


1 76     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

geous  robes,  embroidered  with  laces  and  woven 
gold  and  precious  stones,  prayed  unto  Jove  to  be 
most  favorable  to  the  Emperor,  to  accept  the  of 
ferings  made  by  him  and  by  all  pious  citizens  of 
Rome,  and  to  indicate  by  the  flight  of  sacred  birds 
and  by  the  entrails  of  the  sacred  beasts,  and  by 
the  oracles,  that  he  would  give  victory  to  Maxen- 
tius. 

Afterward,  the  Pontifex  Maximus  took  from 
the  sacred  cage  the  birds  that  prophesied,  and 
placing  them  upon  his  wrists,  released  them  at 
the  open  window  in  the  rear  of  the  altar,  and  he 
and  the  priests  delegated  for  that  office  carefully 
noted  their  prophetic  flight.  The  birds  that  had 
been  well  fed  and  long  confined  rose  a  short  dis 
tance  in  the  air  and  then  circled  around  the  tem 
ple  on  their  unused  and  heavy  pinions,  and  then, 
not  caring  to  pursue  their  flight  over  the  city  to 
the  distant  fields  and  woods,  soon  sailed  home  and 
alighted  upon  the  open  window  sill.  Then  the 
Pontifex  Maximus  took  them  and  exhibited  them 
unto  Maxentius.  Then  he  advanced  to  the  edge 
of  the  raised  platform  on  which  the  altar  rested, 
and  in  a  loud  voice  cried  out:  "  Behold,  the 
sacred  birds  have  refused  to  leave  the  temple,  and 
the  holy,  safe  and  prosperous  city,  but  have  come 
back.  Thus  the  god  promises  to  be  propitious 
unto  Rome." 

Then  the  priests   restored   the   birds   to  their 


BIRDS,  BEASTS  AND  ORACLES          177 

cages,  and  the  assembled  multitude  burst  into  a 
shout  of  triumph:  "  Glory  to  the  most  holy  Em 
peror  Maxentius,  to  whom  the  god  Jupiter  is  most 
favorable." 

Close  at  hand,  the  priests,  with  their  sharp, 
sacrificial  knives,  cut  the  throats  of  the  beasts  of 
sacrifice,  and  bore  the  reeking  entrails,  heart  and 
livers,  to  the  Pontifex  Maximus,  who  diligently 
inspected  them  while  the  priests  were  burning  at 
the  altar  such  portions  as  were  required  to  be 
burned  in  sacrifice.  And  again  the  Flamen  of 
Jupiter  advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  platform,  and 
made  proclamation  that  the  augury  was  altogether 
favorable  unto  Rome.  And  once  more  a  mighty 
shout  of  triumph  pealed  through  the  vast  temple, 
and  was  taken  up  by  those  without  and  rolled 
down  the  slopes  of  the  sacred  hill,  and  spread 
throughout  the  waiting  city. 

Then  said  the  Emperor  Maxentius  in  a  loud 
voice  unto  the  Pontifex  Maximus :  "  Thank  thou 
the  mighty  god  for  me,  and  promise  what  thou 
wilt  in  my  name  unto  the  temple  1  But  go  now 
and  consult  the  oracle !  " 

Then  the  Pontifex  Maximus  passed  out  of  sight 
unto  another  chamber  to  the  right  hand  of  the 
altar,  and  after  some  small  delay,  during  which 
an  indistinguishable  murmur  came  out  from  that 
place,  the  Pontifex  returned,  and,  advancing  once 
more  to  the  edge  of  the  platform,  in  a  loud  voice 


178     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

answered:  "  The  oracle  sendeth  to  the  most  holy 
Emperor  Maxentius  and  to  the  people  of  Rome 
this  message:  Certum  est  Imperatorem  Maxen- 
tlum  super  esse  Constantinum.  And  again  the  vast 
multitude  gave  forth  a  shout  of  triumph,  saying: 
"  Glory  to  the  most  holy  Emperor  Maxentius,  the 
conqueror  of  Constantine,  to  whom  the  oracle 
hath  promised  victory !  " 

Then,  while  the  vestal  virgins  chanted,  the  Em 
peror  left  the  temple,  with  his  immediate  attend 
ants. 

During  the  whole  of  these  religious  services,  all 
of  them  were  constantly  engaged  in  conversation 
among  themselves  —  talking  of  politics,  of  mat 
ters  of  private  business  or  pleasure,  or  any  other 
subject  of  mutual  interest  —  and  only  when  the 
Pontifex  Maximus  might  come  to  the  edge  of  the 
platform  to  announce  the  results  of  his  divinations 
did  any  one  think  it  necessary  to  keep  silence,  or 
to  pay  any  attention  to  the  sacred  rites;  and  so, 
when  it  happened  that  Marcellus  perceived  among 
those  who  had  obtained  permission  to  enter  into 
the  body  of  the  temple  the  grave  face  of  the 
presbyter  Epaphras,  he  stepped  up  to  him,  and 
courteously  saluted  him,  and  entered  into  a  con 
versation  with  him  —  a  rather  unusual  thing  for 
any  Roman  of  his  rank  to  do  with  one  of  the 
despised  sons  of  Israel. 

"  It  is  a  grand  ceremony,  surely,"  the  centurion 


BIRDS,  BEASTS  AND  ORACLES  179 

said.  "  How  does  it  affect  thee,  Epaphras? 
How  doth  it  seem  compared  with  thine  own  sim 
ple  worship  ?  " 

And  Epaphras  answered:  "Yonder  Is  the 
Flamen  of  Jupiter  and  his  attendant  priests,  his 
oblations  and  altars,  his  aediles  and  vestal  virgins. 
Yonder  is  the  Emperor  Maxentius  and  his  cour 
tiers.  These  two  parties  are  evidently  interested 
in  the  sacred  rites.  Here,  in  the  body  of  the  tem 
ple,  are  the  senators  and  chiefest  men  of  Rome, 
who  have,  perhaps,  a  political  interest  in  the  result 
of  the  divinations.  Outside,  and  all  around,  are 
thousands  of  citizens  of  the  middle  classes;  and 
beyond  these  the  vast  and  unconsidered  multitude 
of  plebeians.  Wilt  thou  tell  me,  centurion,  what 
part  or  interest  these  innumerable  crowds  can  have 
in  the  grand  service  of  this  god?  Except  to  bring 
unto  the  temple  offerings  whereby  this  splendid 
ritual  may  be  maintained,  and  its  costly  observ 
ance  paid  for,  what  have  they  to  do  with  it? 
What  to  them  is  this  ornate  temple  service? 
How  doth  this  religion  in  any  wise  affect  their 
hearts  and  consciences,  or  how  control  and  elevate 
their  lives?  " 

"  Truly,"  answered  Marcellus,  "  they  have 
nothing  to  do  with  it,  except,  as  thou  sayest,  to 
bring  their  offerings  to  the  temple,  and  await  the 
proclamation  of  the  Pontifex  Maximus,  or  listen 
to  the  divinations  by  bird,  and  beast,  and  oracle. 


i8o     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

But  what  wouldst  thou  have,  then  ?  It  is  not  pos 
sible  for  every  man  to  be  a  priest,  and  offer  sacri 
fice,  and  interrogate  the  gods?" 

"  Ah,"  said  Epaphras,  "  I  would  have  but  one 
Priest,  that  lives  for  ever,  and  that  hath  offered 
up  Himself  to  be  the  one  true  sacrifice  for  the  sins 
of  all  mankind;  and  I  would  have  every  man  a 
worshiper,  having  access  by  faith  in  this  one 
Priest  and  sacrifice,  unto  God,  the  Father  of  us 
all.  I  would  have  each  man  make  true  religion 
a  matter  personal  to  himself,  so  that,  knowing 
the  Priest  and  Sacrifice  to  have  been  both  perfect 
man  and  true  divinity  —  sinless,  loving,  and  dir 
vine  —  the  heart  and  life  of  the  sincere  worshiper 
might  be  transformed  and  renewed  into  the  image 
and  similitude  of  that  holy  life  which  this  Priest 
and  Sacrifice  Himself  did  live !  Knowest  thou  of 
whom  I  speak,  centurion?" 

"  Yea;  I  do  know!  "  said  Marcellus;  "  but  thou 
seemest  in  one  particular  to  err;  for  we  Romans 
do  have  private  and  personal  worship,  each  man 
for  himself,  at  home,  or  at  the  temple,  as  each  one 
may  choose,  to  any  god  whom  he  may  trust  the 
most !  " 

"  Verily,"  said  Epaphras,  "  he  may  sacrifice 
unto  the  gods  at  home,  and  all  of  his  worship  is 
the  offering  and  the  prayer  that  it  may  be  ac 
cepted.  He  may  go  into  the  temple  alone,  and 
with  his  offering  purchase  the  good-will  of  the 


BIRDS,  BEASTS  AND  ORACLES  181 

priest,  but  this  worship,  also,  endeth  with  the  gift, 
and  the  petition  that  it  may  be  accepted.  Ye  thus 
seek  to  gain  the  divine  aid  for  the  accomplishment 
of  personal  ends,  whether  the  thing  for  which  ye 
pray  be  right  or  wrong;  or  else  ye  seek  to  ex 
piate,  pay  for,  some  specific  act  of  sin.  Ye  know 
nothing  of  sin,  but  only  of  sinful  deeds,  and  the 
divine  beauty  and  consolation  of  the  idea  of  the 
forgiveness  of  sin  is  unknown  to  your  religion. 
Hence  thou  knowest  that  in  this  personal  religion 
of  the  Romans  thou  canst  not  find  any  one  that 
prays  for  forgiveness  of  all  sin  and  freedom  from 
the  dominion  of  it;  but  only  seeking  to  expiate 
some  vile,  specific,  sinful  deed;  thou  wilt  also  find 
them  beseeching  some  god  to  aid  them  in  accom 
plishing  a  sinful  purpose.  Thou  wilt  find  the 
adulteress  praying  that  her  husband  may  remain 
undeceived,  and  that  her  paramour  may  be  pros 
perous  and  generous.  Thou  wilt  find  the  Hakirae 
beseeching  Venus  for  larger  profits  from  their  im 
pure  and  loathsome  trade.  Thou  wilt  find  the 
thief  praying  unto  the  Hermes  Dolios  for  skill 
and  gains  in  the  commission  of  an  intended 
larceny,  and  promising  a  portion  of  his  plunder 
for  the  favor  of  the  god;  thou  wilt  find  young 
maidens  dedicating  their  girdles  and  bracelets  to 
Athenis  Aptera;  thou  wilt  find  youths  praying  to 
Hercules  or  Jupiter  to  hasten  the  death  of  some 
rich  relative  in  order  that  they  may  acquire  his 


1 82     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

estate;  and  thou  wilt  find  baser  criminals  invok 
ing  the  gods  to  aid  them  in  greater  crimes;  but 
not  one  anywhere  that  seeketh  after  personal  holi 
ness,  or  prays  to  be  delivered  from  the  desire  to 
sin.  Centurion,  knowest  thou  that  all  of  this  is 
true?" 

''Thou  speakest  truly,"  replied  Marcellus; 
"  but  one  thought  which  thou  hast  uttered  seem- 
eth  intangible  to  me.  We  know  that  a  sinful  act 
must  be  expiated;  but  thou  seemest  to  draw  a  dis 
tinction  between  sin  and  a  sinful  deed.  How  is 
that?" 

"  A  sinful  act,"  said  Epaphras,  "  is  an  inten 
tional  transgression;  sin  is  nonconformity  to  the 
will  of  God;  ye  Romans  seek  to  expiate  the  act. 
Ye  know  nothing  of  the  forgiveness  of  sin;  the 
change  of  heart  and  mind  by  which  the  will  is 
conformed  to  the  will  divine.  But  an  evil  tree 
yieldeth  evil  fruits ;  a  bitter  fountain  yieldeth  bitter 
waters.  The  religion  of  Rome,  and  all  others 
except  His  whose  name  we  dare  not  mention  in 
this  place,  seek  to  deal  with  sins  which  are  the 
evil  fruits,  the  bitter  waters;  but  that  one  seeketh 
to  make  the  tree  good  that  the  fruits  may  be  good 
also;  seeks  to  purify  the  fountain  that  its  waters 
may  be  pure.  For  thou  knowest,  centurion,  as 
every  man  must  know,  that  if  a  man  commit  sin  for 
which  no  expiation  can  be  made,  and  the  sorrow 
of  the  world  taketh  hold  upon  him,  unless  in  his 


BIRDS,  BEASTS  AND  ORACLES  183 

time  of  trial  he  shall  have  strength  and  courage 
to  look  away  beyond  all  this  ornate  priest-craft 
and  pageantry,  and  in  some  form  cast  himself 
upon  the  mercy  of  an  unknown  God,  the  religion 
of  thy  country  giveth  him  no  hope  nor  help  at 
all.  But  this  unknown  God,  whom  all  men  igno- 
rantly  do  sometimes  worship,  is  known  to  us  that 
do  believe,  because  He  hath  revealed  Himself  to 
us  through  that  one  Priest  and  sacrifice  of  whom 
we  have  been  speaking.  So  that  each  individual 
man  may,  if  he  will,  without  any  other  sacrifice 
or  priest  whatever,  by  faith  draw  nigh  unto  God 
to  the  joy  and  consolation  of  his  soul,  finding  true 
forgiveness  even  for  sins  that  thy  religion  doth  not 
pretend  to  expiate. 

"  Thou  seest,  therefore,  that  this  religion  is  for 
every  man;  but  the  ornate  and  costly  superstition 
of  thy  country  is,  for  the  most  part,  a  business  for 
the  priests  only,  and  for  the  Emperor;  for  the 
most  part  as  much  a  department  of  the  govern 
ment,  as  much  a  political  power,  as  are  its  military, 
police  and  mercantile  laws  and  regulations.  It  is 
a  human  institution,  dependent  for  its  very  ex 
istence  and  maintenance  upon  human  laws  and 
governments,  blended  with  them  and  their  pur 
poses  and  interests,  participating  in  all  their 
wrongs;  and  is,  therefore,  of  necessity  in  itself 
thoroughly  secular  and  dishonest,  and  incapable  of 
regenerating  the  life  of  any  man  or  nation." 


1 84     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

"  I  think  I  comprehend  thee  mostly;  but  what 
dost  thou  mean  by  saying  it  is  thoroughly  secular 
and  dishonest?  " 

"  I  mean  that  every  such  system  is  bound  by 
the  very  conditions  of  its  existence  to  give  its  sanc 
tion,  in  the  name  of  God,  to  whatever  the  law  of 
its  domicile  may  prescribe,  or  else  to  cheat  and 
juggle  with  false  words  and  pretenses  to  hide  its 
own  repugnance,  as  thou  hast  seen  done  this  very 
day." 

"  In  what  respect?  "  said  Marcellus. 

''  Thou  hast  heard  the  Flamen  of  Jupiter  de 
clare  that  all  the  divinations  were  favorable  unto 
Rome,"  replied  Epaphras;  "  but  that  he  was  not 
asked  about  at  all.  He  was  asked  whether  the 
gods  would  give  victory  not  to  Rome  but  to 
Maxentius,  and  that  he  does  not  answer,  because 
he  does  not  know  any  more  than  thou  dost.  To 
this  trick  he  had  resorted  because,  if  he  answereth 
unfavorably  to  Maxentius,  he  dreads  the  imperial 
wrath;  but,  if  he  answer  favorably,  then  he  may 
soon  have  cause  to  tremble  at  the  anger  of  Con- 
stantine,  for  the  issue  of  the  war  is  doubtful;  he, 
therefore,  saith  '  favorable  unto  Rome,'  in  order 
not  to  be  committed  to  either  faction  in  the  state, 
and  leave  room  to  translate  his  augury  in  accord 
ance  with  the  issue,  however  the  matter  may  come 
to  pass." 

"  That  is,  indeed,  a  sharp  criticism  upon  the 


BIRDS,  BEASTS  AND  ORACLES  185 

Pontifex  Maximus,"  answered  Marcellus;  "but 
art  thou  not  mistaken?  Did  he  not  announce  that 
the  oracle  had  declared  that  Maxentius  should 
overcome  Constantine?  " 

"  Wilt  thou  repeat  the  message  of  the  oracle?  " 
said  the  presbyter. 

"  Yea,"  replied  the  centurion;  "  the  very  words 
were :  Cerium  est  Imperatorem  Maxentium 
super  esse  Constantinum! " 

11  And  dost  thou  not  perceive,"  answered  Epa- 
phras,  smiling,  "  that  these  words  may  just  as  well 
and  as  truly  signify  that  *  Constantine  will  over 
come  Maxentius '  as  that  *  Maxentius  will  over 
come  Constantine '  ?  The  Flamen  of  Jupiter 
hath  used  your  Latin  accusative  with  the  infini 
tive  verb  to  construct  a  sentence  for  the  oracle 
having  a  perfect  double  meaning,  so  that  no  mat 
ter  how  the  event  shall  come  to  pass,  he  may 
boldly  tell  the  people  that  the  oracle  foretold  it." 

"  The  fraud  is  transparent;  but  how  would  the 
other  religion  have  answered  in  such  a  case?" 
asked  the  centurion.  "  Not  at  all.  They  who 
believe  it  teach  that  all  war  is  illegal  and  criminal. 
They  dare  not  bear  arms  on  either  side,  nor  pray 
for  the  success  of  either  party  to  a  crime.  But 
they  continually  pray  for  peace." 

"  I  can  hardly  understand,  even  yet,"  replied 
Marcellus,  "  how  a  religion  can  be  maintained 
without  a  government." 


186     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

"  Yet,  if  thou  wilt  consider  the  matter  well," 
said  Epaphras,  "  thou  wilt  surely  find  that  wher 
ever  and  whenever  religion  is  blended  with  gov 
ernment,  it  must  necessarily  be  degraded  into  a 
mere  ecclesiasticism,  and  so  hopelessly  incapable 
of  taking  one  single  step  in  advance  of  the  laws 
in  the  enlightenment  and  regeneration  of  mankind. 
But  the  true  religion,  which  hath  for  three  cen 
turies  maintained  itself,  and  hath  spread  abroad, 
even  beyond  the  boundaries  of  the  empire  —  in 
every  quarter  of  the  world  —  not  only  hath  no 
government  to  support  it,  but  hath  been  persecuted 
and  outlawed  by  imperial  Rome  even  from  the 
beginning,  and  yet  in  spite  of  all  opposing 
agencies,  in  secret,  unheeded  —  almost  unknown 
except  to  its  own  communities  — .  it  groweth  con 
tinually.  Because  it  is  not  a  kingdom  of  this 
world;  hath  no  partnership  with  any  earthly  king 
dom;  dependeth  upon  none  of  them,  and  is  a 
personal  matter  to  each  individual  man  and  woman 
unto  whom  its  messages  may  come.  So  that  if 
thou  cast  a  man  alone  on  rocky  Patmos,  or  if 
thou  drive  him  forth  into  the  Libyan  deserts,  be 
yond  all  human  companionship  and  aid;  or  if 
thou  deprive  him  of  hearing,  sight,  and  speech, 
and  chain  him  in  the  dungeon's  darkness  and 
solitude,  yet  everywhere,  in  all  times  and  places, 
he  may,  by  faith'  in  our  one  Priest  and  Sacrifice, 
hold  sweet  communion  with  the  God  and  Father 


BIRDS,  BEASTS  AND  ORACLES  187 

of  all.  And  no  mortal  enginery  on  earth  can 
deprive  even  the  poorest  and  meanest  of  the  disci 
ples  of  the  consolations  of  his  faith,  or  prevent 
him  from  offering  up  acceptable  worship  to  his 
God.  It  would  gratify  me  much,  centurion,  to 
have  thee  examine,  with  equal  care  and  candor, 
those  salient  points  of  difference  between  the  re 
ligion  of  Rome  and  all  others  on  the  one  side, 
and  that  one  of  which  we  have  been  speaking;  for 
I  desire  thy  welfare." 

But  the  services  were  ended,  the  Emperor  was 
withdrawing  from  the  temple,  and  Marcellus  be 
ing  required  to  resume  his  station  among  his 
brother-officers,  they  two  parted  courteously,  and 
each  one  went  his  way. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

IN  WHICH  MARCELLUS  DISCOVERETH  A  BAR 
BARIAN 

TT\URING  all  the  week  the  young  man  seemed 
-*^  to  himself  to  live  upon  the  memory  of  his 
visit  to  the  Christian  chapel  in  the  catacombs,  and 
the  new  and  wonderful  experience  which  he  had 
encountered  there.  He  thought  that  he  was  hap1- 
pier  than  he  had  ever  been  before,  and  his  step 
once  more  grew  elastic  and  his  visage  bright. 

The  Vice-Prefect  saw  this  joyous  change,  and 
imagined  it  to  have  resulted  from  the  fact  that  the 
youth  had  thus  quickly  mastered  the  passion 
which  seemed  to  have  been  consuming  him,  but 
made  no  inquiries  —  satisfied  to  see  that  the  cen 
turion  had  resumed  the  cheerful  discharge  of  duty, 
and  had  ceased  to  wander  with  aimless  step  and 
hopeless  countenance  along  the  Appian  Way. 

This  conversion  to  a  physically  normal  and 
healthful  condition  was  accompanied  also  by 
changes  in  his  moral  and  mental  constitution  of 
which  the  youth  was  almost  unconscious.  His 
nature  was  softening  under  the  influence  of  the 
higher  and  purer  culture  with  which  he  had  come 

188 


MARCELLUS  MAKES  DISCOVERY      189 

into  brief  and  pleasant  contact.  Even  the  fash 
ionable  brutalities  and  sensualisms  of  Rome  were 
growing  distasteful  to  him.  The  lascivious  ex 
hibition  of  the  theater  seemed  to  him  in  some 
undefined,  intangible  way  to  be  degrading  not 
only  to  the  shameless  actresses  who  trod  the  stage, 
but  to  all  true  womanhood;  and  the  cruel  and 
murderous  scenes  of  the  Coliseum  no  longer 
elicited  his  admiration  nor  extorted  his  applause. 
The  splendid  barbarian  was  becoming  refined  by 
association  with  loving  charity,  which  even  yet  he 
knew  not  how  to  appreciate  at  its  true  value,  and 
with  living  truth,  that  he  had  only  seen  in  evanes 
cent  gleams  and  "  as  through  a  glass  darkly." 

He  knew  nothing  of  the  division  of  time  by 
Sabbaths,  a  custom  common  to  both  Jews  and 
Christians,  but  he  counted  the  days  until  the 
seventh,  and  rejoiced  like  a  child  as  the  number 
grew  less  and  less  between  him  and  the  day  of  his 
promised  meeting  with  Dorcas,  and  when  the 
seventh  day  had  come,  very  early  in  the  morning, 
with  quick,  elastic  steps  and  beaming  eyes  he 
strode  once  more  along  the  Appian  Way. 

The  passionate,  fierce  desire  to  possess  the  ob 
ject  of  his  affections,  which,  indeed,  was  all  that 
the  sensual  Romans  knew  of  love,  had  almost 
faded  out  of  his  heart,  and  slowly  but  beautifully, 
as  a  rose  unfolds  in  dew  and  starlight,  a  dim  con 
sciousness  was  blooming  in  his  spirit  that  the  love 


190     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

which  alone  could  be  worthy  of  Dorcas  was  that 
affection  which  seeketh,  first  of  all,  the  happiness 
of  the  one  beloved.  He  could  not  have  uttered 
this  dawning  perception  in  any  form  of  words, 
but  it  elevated  and  refined  him;  and  with  a  sense  of 
sweeter  and  higher  happiness,  he  hastened  to  the 
entrance  of  the  catacombs. 

Dorcas  was  there  awaiting  him.  The  morning 
light  toyed  with  her  golden  hair,  the  loving  light 
caressed  her  glorious  face  and  lissome  form,  and 
a  light  more  pure  and  enchanting  than  the  rising 
dawn  slept  in  her  azure  eyes.  She  sprang  for 
ward  to  meet  him,  and  extended  both  her  little 
hands,  which  the  centurion  gently  took  in  his  own, 
and  then  stood  looking  down  upon  her  glowing 
face  with  throbbing  heart  and  beaming  eyes,  and 
softly  said:  "  Wilt  thou  not  kiss  me,  Dorcas?" 

1  Yea,  gladly  and  lovingly,"  she  answered,  with 
a  happy  smile.  She  was  so  happy.  Only  a 
month  ago  he  would  have  seized  her  in  his  arms, 
even  against  her  will,  and  would  have  crushed  her 
rosebud  mouth  with  cruel,  sensual  lips  —  she  saw 
the  mighty  difference  and  rejoiced.  He  felt  the 
mighty  difference  in  his  very  soul,  and  the  con 
sciousness  of  it  both  humbled  and  exalted  him. 

Then  said  he  mos't  tenderly:  "  I  have  been  a 
brute  unto  thee,  Dorcas;  thou  must  forgive  me, 
darling,  for  I  did  not  know!  "  and  she  answered 
to  him:  "  Surely  thy  fault  is  hardly  personal  to 


MARCELLUS  MAKES  DISCOVERY       191' 

thee,  Marcellus,  seeing  that  it  was  but  that  of 
Roman  civilization  and  of  paganism !  "  Then 
with  a  sweet  blush  spreading  over  her  exquisite 
face,  in  low,  delicious,  happy  tones,  she  said:  :t  I 
love  thee,  Marcellus;  I  do  love  thee  dearly! 
Thou  hast  large  capacities  for  good  in  thy  strong, 
pure  heart  and  mind!  " 

Then  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  scales  had  fallen 
from  his  eyes  that  he  might  all  at  once  perceive 
how  hard,  selfish  and  sensuous  was  the  life  of  the 
practical  Romans,  and  what  wide  possibilities  of 
purer,  higher,  nobler  existence  might  be  for  him 
and  other  men.  Rome  herself  was  beginning  to 
appear  to  him  but  as  a  barbarian  compared  with 
what  might  be,  even  as  the  tribes  of  Gaul  and  of 
Germania  seemed  barbarous  when  compared  with 
Rome;  except  that  the  comparison  between  the 
barbarians  and  Rome  referred  to  physical  progress 
and  intellectual  life  alone,  while  that  to  which 
Rome  was  like  a  barbarian  was  neither  intellectual 
nor  physical,  yet  what  it  was  he  did  not  clearly 
understand;  but  as  to  the  crystalline  chastity  of 
that  world  of  thought,  emotion,  purposes  —  in 
which  both  Dorcas  and  Epaphras  dwelt  —  the 
centurion  discovered  himself  to  be  but  a  bar 
barian. 

Then  once  more,  hand  in  hand,  bearing  their 
lighted  lamps,  the  twain  trod  through  the  long 
galleries  together,  and  once  more,  at  every  new 


192     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

passage  which  they  reached  and  sought  to  enter, 
a  voice  of  one  unseen  cried  out:  "Walk  thou 
by  faith!"  and  Dorcas  sweetly  answered:  "In 
His  name!  "  and  so  they  went  on  until  the  lighted 
chapel  opened  in  their  path,  wherein  many  had 
already  assembled.  And  Dorcas  said:  "Wilt 
thou  not  enter  in  and  sit  with  me?  No  one  ob- 
jecteth  here  to  any  peaceful  visitor,  and  thou  wilt 
learn  nothing  that  can  injure  thee." 

Then  passed  he  with  her  into  the  chapel  and 
they  sat  together,  and  in  low  tones,  that  seemed 
most  fitting  to  the  place  and  the  surroundings, 
talked  they  of  many  things. 

And  while  the  congregation  was  assembling, 
the  centurion  observed  that  when  they  came  in, 
one  by  one,  or  two  by  two,  all  adult  persons,  and 
some  even  of  the  children,  stepped  quietly  into 
an  alcove  made  in  the  side  of  one  of  the  galleries, 
where  was  a  table  having  a  box  on  the  top  thereof 
and  a  lamp  burning  above  it,  and  in  a  moment 
more  returned  and  took  their  seats.  "  Dorcas," 
said  he,  "  what  ceremony  taketh  them  into  that 
place?" 

And  she  said:  "  We  Christians  make  a  weekly 
offering  of  whatever  each  may  have  above  that 
which  is  necessary  for  himself  and  family,  and 
this  goeth  into  the  common  treasury,  for  the  com 
mon  good,  to  be  applied  as  our  deacons,  or 
stewards,  may  direct.  They  are  making  their  of- 


MARCELLUS  MAKES  DISCOVERY      193 

f erings  now.  Therefore  we  pray :  '  Give  us  our 
daily  bread/  which  prayer  would  be  but  mockery 
of  God  if  we  should  violate  the  law  of  Christ  by 
*  laying  up  treasures  in  our  private  storehouses  for 
future  use.1  We  Christians  live,  as  men  of  Rome 
would  say,  *  from  hand  to  mouth ; '  but  the  com 
mon  church  accumulates  for  all." 

"  And  if  misfortune  overtaketh  any  one,"  said 
Marcellus,  "  how  doth  he  live,  having  given  all 
that  he  had  unto  the  church?  " 

"  All  the  church  hath  is  his,"  said  Dorcas,  "  ac 
cording  to  his  necessities.  So  that  among  us  those 
who  are  given  little  lack  nothing,  and  those  to 
whom  much  is  given  have  nothing  over;  but  there 
is  enough,  and  to  spare,  for  all." 

"  I  have  a  few  pieces  with  me,"  said  Marcellus; 
"  thinkest  thou  that  they  would  take  it  kindly  if 
I  put  them  in  the  box?  " 

4  They  solicit  no  one,"  she  answered,  "  nor 
have  they  any  right  to  reject  the  offering  of  any 
that  is  made  with  hope  that  it  may  accomplish 
good.  But  thou,  centurion,"  she  added  with  a 
kindly  smile,  "  must  not  forget  that,  when  thou 
casteth  money  into  the  treasury,  thou  art  aiding 
the  despised  and  persecuted  cause  of  Christ." 

For  an  instant  the  young  man's  cheek  burned 
with  an  angry  flush,  but  it  passed  off  as  quickly 
as  it  came,  and  he  quietly  went  forward  and 
emptied  his  purse  into  the  treasury,  and  then  re- 


194     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

sumed  his  seat  beside  her,  saying:  "  I  hope  that 
even  the  pitiful  sum  I  had  with  me  may  do  some 
little  good." 

By  this  time  all  the  congregation  had  assem 
bled,  and  thereupon  the  presbyter  Epaphras  en 
tered  into  the  chapel,  and  seeing  Marcellus  there, 
he  advanced  and  kindly  greeted  him;  and  having 
taken  his  station  upon  the  platform,  the  congre 
gation  rose,  and  with  right  hand  uplifted,  re 
peated  in  solemn  tones  the  declaration  of  their 
faith.  And  the  ceremonies  proceeded  as  upon  the 
preceding  Sabbath,  except  that  there  was  no  An- 
astasis  of  the  dead,  and  Epaphras  occupied  the 
time  which  had  been  consumed  by  that  service 
upon  the  former  occasion  by  a  short  address  or 
"  sermon,"  as  Dorcas  denominated  it. 

The  centurion  listened  to  the  first  Christian  ser 
mon  he  had  ever  heard  with  a  strange,  absorbing 
interest.  A  world  of  light  broke  in  upon  his  spirit 
when  the  presbyter  said :  i  Ye  see,  therefore,  be 
loved,  that  there  never  was,  and  never  can  be,  a 
false  religion  in  the  world,  inasmuch  as  all  religion 
is  in  itself  only  the  utterance  of  the  heart's  death 
less  yearnings  for  the  one  true  God,  after  whom 
the  human  race  seeketh,  and  whom  the  heathen  do 
ignorantly  conceive  to  dwell  in  the  bright  stars 
above  us,  or  in  idols  of  wood  and  stone,  which  are 
the  workmanship  of  their  own  hands.  And  this 
honest,  universal,  but  mistaken  effort  of  sin-blinded 


MARCELLUS  MAKES  DISCOVERY       195 

men  to  bestow  a  physical,  tangible  shape  and  ex 
istence  upon  the  one  true  God  hath  filled  the  world 
with  idols  —  the  false  conceptions  and  human  rep 
resentations  of  Him  that  is  invisible  except  unto 
the  eye  of  faith;  that  is  a  spirit,  and  is  only  wor 
shiped  truly  by  those  that  worship  Him  in  spirit 
and  in  truth;  whom  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  hath 
revealed  to  them  that  love  Him."  Because  from 
the  worship  of  the  idolaters  itself,  and  from  the 
lessons  of  the  Platonic  philosophy  then  current  in 
the  city  of  Rome,  it  appeared  to  him  with  almost 
startling  vividness  that  if  the  one  God  of  the 
Christians  be  substituted  for  all  others,  and  the 
Christ  taken  as  the  fulfillment  of  Plato's  splendid 
vision  of  the  Divine  Man  that  was  to  instruct  men 
in  the  will  of  God  and  reconcile  them  to  His  ways, 
all  that  he  had  been  taught  to  regard  as  religion 
would  be  wonderfully  simplified,  and  this  very 
simplicity  itself  seemed  to  demonstrate  its  truth. 
But  the  departing  of  the  congregation  broke  the 
thread  of  his  meditations,  and  soon  all  others  had 
gone  except  Epaphras,  Dorcas  and  himself. 


CHAPTER  XVi 

IN  WHICH  THERE  IS  SOME  TALK  OF  MARRIAGE 

A  FTER  the  conclusion  of  the  services  in  the 
•**•  chapel  in  the  rock,  Epaphras  said  to  Mar- 
cellus:  "I  rejoice,  centurion,  to  see  thee  among 
us  here  again,  and  hope  that  thou  mayest  learn 
to  love  our  simple  form  of  worship,  and  that  thou 
wilt  never  find  aught  therein  which  should  right 
fully  subject  us  to  the  malediction  of  good  men 
or  of  righteous  laws?  " 

"  If  all  Christians  be  such  as  thou  and  Dorcas," 
said  the  centurion,  "  I  would  gladly  learn  the  faith 
which  worketh  out  characters  so  perfect." 

"  Thou  lovest  the  maiden,  then?"  said  Epa 
phras,  striving  in  vain  to  conceal  his  agitation. 

"  Yea,"  answered  Marcellus,  taking  the  girl's 
hand  in  his,  "  I  love  her  as  I  do  mine  own  life, 
and  more !  "  But  Epaphras  indicated  to  Dorcas 
that  he  wished  to  converse  with  the  centurion 
alone,  and  so  the  maiden  withdrew  to  the  women's 
apartments. 

"  And,  notwithstanding,"  said  Epaphras,  in 
slow,  deliberate  tones  that  seemed  to  place  an 
emphasis  on  every  word,  "  thou  didst  offer  unto 

196 


SOME  TALK  OF  MARRIAGE  197 

her  not  long  ago  the  grossest  insult  that  a  Chris 
tian  maiden  can  receive."  The  young  centurion's 
face  became  flushed  and  troubled.  But  at  length 
he  said: 

"  I  have  even  told  Dorcas  that  I  was  as  a  brute, 
or  a  barbarian,  to  her,  and  she  knoweth  well  that 
it  was  the  barbarism  or  brutality  of  ignorance. 
But  to  speak  the  very  truth,  even  yet  I  do  not  un 
derstand  why  my  love  for  her  was  a  thing  so  dif 
ferent  from  what  it  ought  to  have  been,  and,  if 
thou  canst  credit  me,  so  different  from  what  now 
it  is!" 

"  Didst  thou  not  know,  then,"  said  Epaphras, 
"  that^what  thou  calledst  love  without  marriage  is 
unpardonable  sin  and  hopeless  degradation  to 
every  Christian  woman,  and  that  marriage  without 
love  is  in  no  respect  a  better  or  more  honorable 
thing?" 

The  youth  flushed  vividly;  but  his  brave,  sin 
cere  nature  asserted  itself,  and  he  answered  by  a 
simple,  straightforward  statement  of  the  truth, 
saying: 

"  Verily,  I  did  not.  I  call  to  witness  all  gods, 
both  thine  and  mine,  that  I  believed  and  know  that 
nearly  all  the  Roman  youth,  of  both  sexes,  do  be 
lieve  that  such  love  as  I  did  offer  Dorcas  is  better 
far  for  her,  or  any  other  girl,  than  to  assume  the 
burdens  and  the  bonds  of  matrimony,  from  which 
both  men  and  women  in  Rome  recoil  with  such 


198      DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

strong  loathing  that  we  have  enacted  the  Julian 
and  Papinean  laws,  and  other  laws,  to  compel 
the  unwilling  citizens  to  contract  marriages.  O 
gladly  would  I  take  Dorcas  to  be  my  wife;  but  I 
did  think  that  the  arrangement  I  proposed  to 
make  was  far  better,  both  for  her  and  me,  than 
matrimony.  And,  while  now  I  love  the  maiden 
otherwise,  and  feel,  somehow,  that  the  former 
arrangement  is  not  a  fit  nor  proper  one  for  her, 
I  tell  thee,  Epaphras,  in  perfect  truth,  that  I  can 
not  understand  why  this  is  so  or  how  it  happen- 
eth !  " 

'That  I  will  even  tell  thee,"  answered  the 
presbyter.  "  It  is  because  thou  hast  begun  to 
realize  the  truth  that  ye  Romans  are  not  fit  to  be 
true  husbands  or  true  wives." 

"  And  why  not?  "  said  Marcellus.  "  There  is 
no  finer  race  of  beings  on  the  earth." 

"  Because,"  said  the  presbyter,  "  the  union  of 
men  and  women,  even  on  the  basis  of  physical 
and  intellectual  excellencies  alone,  is  but  a  com 
merce  of  more  gifted  brutes,  and  Is  no  real  mar 
riage,  which  is  a  higher  and  purer  relation  for 
which  ye  Romans  are  not  fit,  because  *  your 
lasciviousness  and  unchastity  have  been  so  notori 
ous  for  centuries  that  when  the  emperor  sought 
to  reform  manners  by  the  Julian  law  your  wives 
and  mothers  did  not  hesitate  to  escape  the  legal 
penalties  of  adultery  by  exchanging  the  decent 


SOME  TALK  OF  MARRIAGE  199 

stole  of  matronhood  for  the  toga  of  the  avowed 
courtesan,  to  whom  the  law  did  not  apply.'  Ye 
never  knew  what  a  true  marriage  is.  *  Ye  pub 
licly  boast  that  ye  have  renounced  marriage,  and 
public  confidence  in  marriage  and  the  family  tie 
is  shaken  to  its  center; '  and,  '  on  the  other  hand, 
the  women  themselves,  insulted  by  the  neglect  of 
the  other  sex,  and  exasperated  at  the  inferiority 
of  their  position,  avenge  themselves  by  holding 
the  institution  of  legitimate  marriage  with  almost 
equal  aversion.  They  are  indignant  at  the  state 
of  servitude  to  which  it  binds  them,  the  state  of 
legal  dependence  in  which  it  keeps  them;  for  it 
leaves  them  without  rights,  even  without  the  en 
joyment  of  their  own  property;  it  reduces  them 
to  the  state  of  mere  children,  or  rather  transfers 
them  from  the  power  of  their  parent  to  that  of 
their  husbands.  They  continue  through  life,  in 
spite- of  the  mockery  of  respect  with  which  your 
laws  surround  them,  things  rather  than  persons; 
things  that  can  be  sold,  transferred  backwards 
and  forwards  from  one  master  to  another  for  the 
sake  of  their  dowry,  or  even  for  their  powers  of 
child-bearing/  Ye  degrade  and  despise  your 
women  so  much  that,  long  ago,  the  Censor  Metel- 
lus,  in  your  august  senate,  said:  '  Could  we  exist 
without  wives  at  all,  doubtless  we  should  all  rid 
ourselves  of  the  plague  they  are  to  us;  since,  how 
ever,  nature  hath  decreed  that  we  cannot  dispense 


200     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

with  the  affliction  it  is  better  to  bear  it  manfully, 
and  rather  look  to  the  permanent  conservation  of 
the  state  than  to  our  own  transient  gratification  ' ; 
and  Augustus,  a  hundred  years  afterwards,  recited 
this  invective  in  your  senate,  and  ye  had  to  resort 
to  stringent  laws  to  compel  your  citizens  to  marry. 
And  ye  despised  women  so  thoroughly  that  the 
most  of  them  were  destroyed  in  infancy,  and  those 
who  survived  were  not  esteemed  worthy  to  have 
a  prenomen  —  left  even  nameless.  And  it  re 
sulted  from  this  degradation  of  the  sex  that  your 
women,  uninstructed,  ill-treated,  half-employed, 
threw  themselves  with  all  the  passionate  self- 
abandonment  of  their  weaker  natures  into  the 
worship  of  Anubis  and  Astarte,  and  all  the  libid 
inous  sensualism  of  Egypt  and  of  the  East;  and 
as  ye  became  more  and  more  degraded  the  men 
followed  them  until  your  whole  social  life-path 
became  utterly  infamous  and  unclean.  So  it  hath 
been  throughout  the  world;  women  are  thoroughly 
despised,  and  the  wife  is  everywhere  a  slave.  But 
our  Saviour  Christ,  that  hath  addressed  His 
gospel  to  each  individual  and  not  to  any  sect  or 
nation,  and  hath  devolved  upon  each  one  for  him 
self  a  personal  responsibility  that  implies,  in  the 
very  definition  of  it,  personal  rights  as  well  as 
duties  —  a  responsibility  which  is  necessarily  and 
eternally  antagonistic  to  all  slavery  —  hath  also 
emancipated  the  wife  from  the  condition  of  a 


SOME  TALK  OF  MARRIAGE  201 

slave,  and  hath  elevated  her  to  the  equal  station 
of  a  companion,  counselor  and  friend  by  ordain 
ing  monogamic  marriage  to  be  a  sacrament  of 
religion,  based  upon  mutual  affection  and  consent, 
and  by  prohibiting  divorce.  So  thou  must  see, 
centurion,  that  the  love  of  a  Christian  for  his  wife 
is  quite  another  thing  than  the  unlicensed  passion 
of  a  Roman,  and  than  the  contract,  founded  upon 
interest  and  expediency,  by  which  a  wife  is  taken. 
Thou  seest  clearly  that  a  Christian  marriage  sanc 
tifies  sexhood,  elevates  women,  and  renders  the 
family  tie  a  sacred  and  indissoluble  one  that  forms 
the  basis  of  society.  And  if  thou  wilt  seriously 
consider  all  these  things  thou  canst  not  fail  to 
understand  what  a  pure  and  holy  thing  is  that 
which  Dorcas  calleth  '  love,1  nor  of  what  manner 
of  love  he  should  be  capable  that  deserveth  to 
have  her  for  his  wife." 

Then  the  centurion  answered :  "  I  am  a  very 
young  man,  and  have  never  had  inclination  or 
occasion  to  examine  many  of  the  matters  of  which 
thou  speakest,  and  I  feel  rather  than  understand 
the  meaning  of  thy  words.  But  I  perceive 
clearly  that  thou  knowest  how  to  lay  thy  heavy 
hand  upon  every  sore  place  that  afflicteth  the 
Roman  body  politic.  If  any  man  doubt  that  the 
Romans  themselves  comprehend  the  vast  evil  of 
war,  slavery,  intemperance,  usury,  and  luxury,  a 
knowledge  of  the  laws  continually  enacted,  and  re- 


202     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

enacted  so  ineffectually,  would  certainly  remove 
his  doubts.  But  while  the  Romans  know  and  re 
gret  the  terrible  decadence  of  all  public  and  social 
integrity  and  virtue,  they  know  not  any  statute 
or  custom  that  can  arrest  its  downward  progress; 
and  so  we  live  as  we  can  under  the  laws  and  cus 
toms  which  have  grown  upon  us.  Dost  thou 
know  any  law,  Epaphras,  that  might  accomplish 
the  various  reformations  contemplated  by  such 
enactments  as  the  Julian  law,  the  Oppian  and 
Vaconian  laws,  and  the  law  of  Augustus?  " 

"Nay,  verily!"  replied  the  presbyter;  "  no 
human  statute  can  remedy  these  evils,  or  even 
reach  the  seat  of  the  universal  malady.  The 
larger  wisdom  of  our  Saviour  Christ  is  manifested 
by  the  fact  that  He  did  know  it  was  a  vainer  thing 
than  beating  of  the  wind  to  enact  any  such  laws 
—  the  most  perfect  code  of  which  the  Jews  had 
tested  for  long  centuries  —  and  hence,  the  divine 
truth,  by  which  He  purposeth  to  accomplish  the 
regeneration  of  mankind,  never  assumed  the  shape 
of  a  statute  to  govern  Christians  or  Jews,  Greeks 
or  barbarians;  was  never  confirmed  by  the  inflic 
tion  of  any  temporal  penalties,  but  is  addressed 
to  each  individual  man  as  man.  He  constantly 
saith  *  every  man,'  l  any  man,'  '  whosoever  will; ' 
and  His  gospel  is  not  addressed  to  any  sect, 
corporation,  government,  or  class  —  social  or 
political  —  but  to  the  individual;  and  no  mortal 


SOME  TALK  OF  MARRIAGE  203 

enginery  on  earth  can  either  compel  the  individual 
to  do,  or  to  leave  undone,  what  is  essential  to  his 
becoming  a  Christian.  So,  centurion,  thou  seest 
that  while  no  man  can  reform  and  regenerate  the 
Roman  world,  and  is,  therefore  not  responsible 
for  that  it  is  not  done,  any  can,  if  he  will,  our 
Lord  helping  him,  reform,  regenerate,  and  purify 
his  own  heart  and  life,  and  he  is  held  to  be  per 
sonally  accountable  for  his  failure  to  do  so.  The 
Kingdom  of  Heaven,  the  Church  of  Christ,  to 
day,  unseen  and  unknown,  extends  throughout 
the  empire,  and  even  further  than  the  power  of 
Rome  hath  ever  gone;  but  the  faith  which  jus 
tifies  the  individual  is  personal  and  peculiar  to 
each  man,  and  is  beyond  the  reach  of  any  human 
statute.  But  it  is  the  Sabbath  day,  and  I,  and 
also  this  young  deaconess,  Dorcas,  have  yet  many 
duties  to  discharge,  so  that  thou  mayest  go  in 
peace,  and  come  again  upon  the  Seventh  day 
hence,  if  such  be  thy  desire." 

Then  the  centurion  and  Epaphras  saluted  each 
other  with  great  kindness,  and  Dorcas  having  been 
recalled,  she  and  Marcellus  took  up  each  a  lamp, 
and,  hand  in  hand,  they  twain  trod  the  long  gal 
leries  once  more  until  they  reached  that  one  which 
led  on  to  the  entrance  by  which  the  young  man 
came.  And  as  they  walked  on  the  centurion  said : 
"What  is  the  Sabbath,  Dorcas?" 

And  she  answered:     "It  is  the   Seventh   day 


204     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

upon  which  our  Lord  arose  from  the  dead  after 
that  He  had  been  crucified  under  Pontius  Pilate; 
and  every  Sabbath  we  Christians  celebrate  His 
resurrection  in  the  communion,  as  he  commanded." 

"  Arose  from  the  dead  after  that  he  had  been 
crucified!  "  said  Marcellus,  amazedly. 

'  Yea !  Surely  thou  canst  not  think  it  an  in 
credible  thing  that  God  should  raise  Him  from 
the  dead,  when  thou  hast  seen  with  thine  own  eyes 
the  Anastasis  of  our  brother  Charis?" 

"  That  is  most  true,"  said  Marcellus.  "  But, 
Dorcas,  are  there  no  books  containing  the  history 
of  these  things?  Epaphras  talks  to  me  most 
kindly  and  learnedly,  but  somewhat  too  much  with 
reference  to  large  questions  of  social  and  political 
truth.  But  I  would  fain -know  more  of  this  same 
Jesus  —  more  that  is  personal  to  Him;  more  of 
what  He  said,  and  did,  and  felt,  and  thought,  and 
suffered!  Are  there  such  books,  Dorcas,  any 
where?  " 

And  a  glad  light  glorified  her  speaking  counte 
nance  as  she  replied: 

"  Yea,  thou  most  dear  Marcellus.  I  will  ob 
tain  for  thee  by  next  Sabbath  the  four  Gospels 
and  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  and  thou  mayest 
read  the  holy  Scriptures  for  thyself." 

"  And,  Dorcas,  what  is  it  to  be  a  deaconess,  as 
Epaphras  said  thou  art?  " 

"  It  is  to  aid  in  caring  for  the  chapel,  and  in  the 


SOME  TALK  OF  MARRIAGE  205 

preparation  of  the  bread  and  wine,  and  to  dis 
tribute  to  the  women  of  our  community  out  of  the 
treasury,  according  as  each  hath  need,  either  per 
manently  or  by  reason  of  some  temporary  neces 
sity." 

"And  thy  parents,  Dorcas,  where  are  they?" 
asked  Marcellus. 

"  Both  suffered  martyrdom  for  the  faith  of 
Jesus  when  I  was  yet  in  infancy." 

"  Ah  !  I  remember  to  have  heard  thee  say  they 
died  when  thou  wast  very  young,  but  thou  didst 
not  say  how.  Both  martyrs !  Dorcas,  dost  thou 
not  hate  Rome  and  the  Emperor,  and  every 
Roman,  for  this  cruel  wrong?  " 

"  Nay,  nay,  centurion !  Hast  thou  not  heard 
us  pray  for  our  enemies,  and  for  the  Emperor  and 
all  others  in  authority  I  I  pity  and  forgive  them ! 
I  doubt  not  that  just  men  even  have  persecuted  us 
in  all  good  conscience,  ignorantly,  as  did  Saul  of 
Tarsus,  of  whom  thou  mayest  read  in  the  beauti 
ful  parchments  I  shall  get  for  thee." 

"  It  is  most  strange  and  moving,"  cried  Marcel 
lus.  "  Tacitus  saith  that  the  Christians  are  *  full 
of  hatred  for  the  human  race.'  Yet  I  see  that  ye 
Christians  hate  no  one,  and  even  pray  for  those" 
who  persecute  you !  " 

They  walked  on  in  silence,  the  centurion  almost 
oppressed  with  meditations  upon  the  new  and  won 
derful  life  that  was  slowly  revealing  itself  to  his 


206     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

astonished  intellect,  and  upon  the  more  wonderful 
changes  that  seemed  to  be  in  progress  in  the  depths 
of  his  own  nature;  and  the  young  girl  watched 
him  with  patient  love  and  hope.  And  when  they 
had  reached  the  gallery  which  she  had  already 
named  "  Marcellus  Way,"  she  lifted  her  glad  face 
to  his  saying:  "  Kiss  me,  love,  and  go  in  peace." 
The  youth  saluted  her  with  a  respect  and  loving 
kindness  that  seemed  to  him  new,  strange  and 
exquisite,  and  as  he  wended  his  way  on  to  the 
upper  world  the  fullness  of  his  heart  uttered  its 
joy  in  low  and  loving  words :  "  There  is  none 
like  her!  There  is  none!  There  is  no  love  like 
mine  in  all  the  world !  It  is  a  new  fire  stolen  from 
heaven  most  blessed,  warm  and  pure,  such  as  no 
Roman  hath  ever  known  before.  It  is  not  in  the 
sweet  verse  of  Sappho,  and  Hesiod's  perfect 
melodies  know  naught  of  it !  Nor  breathes  it  out 
of  any  music  of  Anacreon's  lyre!  That  which 
Ovid  and  Tibullus  sing  of  love  is  but  licentiousness 
compared  with  it,  and  compared  with  it  the  finest 
odes  of  Horace  are  unclean,  dead  and  cold !  For 
there  is  none  like  her  in  all  the  world  —  not  one !  " 


CHAPTER  XVI 

IN  WHICH  EUSEBIUS  OFFERETH  THE  SWADDLING- 
BANDS  UNTO  THE  CHURCH 

A  FTER  that  embassy  which  went  out  of 
Rome  secretly  to  wait  upon  Constantine  at 
Lutetia,  and  to  solicit  him  to  march  into  Italy  and 
free  them  from  the  tyranny  of  Maxentius,  had 
separated  at  the  foot  of  the  Alps,  as  hath  already 
been  narrated,  those  who  were  to  return  to  the 
city  did  successfully  perform  their  journey;  and 
likewise  those  who  were  to  return  to  Lutetia  to 
communicate  to  Constantine  those  things  which 
had  been  made  known  by  Eusebius,  arrived  safely 
and  speedily.  And  Constantine  gladly  received 
them,  and  having  been  fully  advised  of  all  that 
Eusebius  had  declared,  he  dismissed  those  deputies 
to  Rome  again  with  instructions  to  inform  the 
patricians,  senators  and  Christians  who  were 
moving  in  the  matter,  "  That  never,  either  in 
Britain  or  in  the  West,  under. the  government  of 
his  father  nor  under  his  own,  had  the  Christians 
been  persecuted;  that  on  the  contrary,  both  from 
the  accounts  of  them  which  Pliny  had  given  to 
Trajan,  and  from  all  that  he  had  learned  concern- 

207 


208     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

ing  them  from  other  sources,  he  had  formed  a 
very  favorable  opinion  of  the  Christians,  and  had 
great  regard  for  Jesus  Christ,  of  whom,  indeed, 
he  had  long  desired  to  know  more,  but  had 
hitherto  been  prevented  by  the  constant  pressure 
of  public  affairs;  that  if  the  Christians  should  be 
able  and  willing  to  give  him  any  effectual  aid  in 
consolidating  the  empire,  and  in  preventing  the 
devastation  of  Italy  by  a  protracted  civil  war,  he 
would  guarantee  to  them  entire  freedom  in  the 
public  exercise  of  their  religion;  that  an  embassy 
from  their  bishops,  or  from  the  churches,  would 
be  granted  safe  conduct  and  kind  usage  if  they 
desired  to  confer  with  him  in  regard  to  these 
things;  and  that  he  did  not  desire  declamations, 
which  might  mean  much  or  little,  but  accurate  in 
formation,  whereby  he  would  be  enabled  to  judge 
for  himself  of  their  ability  to  render  effective  aid, 
and  proper  assurances  of  their  willingness  to  do 
so." 

And  having  dismissed  them  with  this  message, 
Constantine  so  effectually  furthered  them  upon 
their  journey  that  they,  too,  safely  arrived  at 
Rome  only  a  few  days  after  the  return  of  those 
with  whom  Eusebius  had  come.  And  the  mes 
sage  of  the  emperor  having  been  communicated 
by  those  who  brought  it  to  the  patricians  and 
senators  who  were  transacting  the  business,  they 
met  together  secretly,  and  had  Eusebius  come  to 


EUSEBIUS  OFFERETH  THE  BANDS     209 

them,  whom  they  informed  fully,  and  commis 
sioned  to  lay  open  the  matter  to  the  churches,  and 
ascertain  both  the  opinion  of  the  Christians  con 
cerning  it,  and,  also,  the  facts  about  which  Con- 
stantine  sought  to  be  informed.  And  thereupon 
Melchiades,  the  Bishop  at  Rome,  invited  the 
presbyters  in  the  city,  and  bishops  and  presbyters 
throughout  all  Italy,  to  assemble  upon  a  day 
named  at  the  chapel  in  the  catacombs  to  consider 
of  the  things  proposed. 

And  at  the  appointed  time  they  assembled  se 
cretly  in  the  chapel  of  Epaphras  to  the  number 
of  about  three  hundred;  and  the  Roman  bishop 
having  called  the  assembly  to  order,  first  of  all 
stated  to  them  clearly  and  perspicuously  the  busi 
ness  upon  which  they  had  been  summoned,  and 
afterward  they  united  in  prayer  to  God  that  His 
Spirit  might  so  guide  their  deliberations  that  their 
action  should  be  for  the  glory  of  God  and  for  the 
good  of  the  common  church.  And,  therefore,  the 
bishop  said: 

"  If  any  one  hath  counsel  to  offer,  let  him 
speak." 

Then  many  gave  their  opinions ;  many  asked  for 
further  information;  many  suggested  difficulties 
and  objections;  and  little  by  little  the  business  was 
explored  to  the  bottom,  and  gradually  the  assem 
bly  became  divided  in  sentiment  upon  the  very  core 
of  the  whole  question  into  two  parties,  whereof 


210     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

Eusebius  led  one  party,  and  Epaphras,  the  presby 
ter,  led  the  other. 

"  It  is  agreed  upon  common  consent,"  said 
Eusebius,  "  both  from  the  character  of  the  Em 
peror  Constantine  and  from  the  fact  that  no 
persecution  of  Christians  hath  been  permitted  by 
him,  or  by  his  father,  that  we  may  safely  rely  upon 
his  pledge  to  protect  the  church  upon  the  condi 
tions  stated.  Ye  know,  brethren,  that  from  the 
days  in  which  our  Lord  tabernacled  in  flesh,  even 
until  this  hour,  the  church  hath  been  bleeding  at 
every  pore.  Ten  different  times,  under  ten  dif 
ferent  emperors,  persecution  hath  taken  the  form 
of  laws  for  the  destruction  of  Christianity,  and 
the  followers  of  Jesus  have  been  tried  beyond  all 
human  endurance.  The  question,  therefore,  in 
brief,  is  simply  whether  the  church  shall  give  aid 
to  Constantine  for  the  recovery  of  his  rightful 
heritage,  in  exchange  for  his  imperial  protection, 
and  so  be  enabled  to  come  forth  into  the  broad 
light  of  day,  and  proclaim,  without  fear  or  mo 
lestation,  the  gospel  of  our  Lord!  Or  whether 
she  shall  contumaciously  reject  proffered  peace 
and  protection,  and  thereby  justify  the  accusation 
of  the  pagans  that  we  Christians  are  inspired  with 
hatred  of  the  human  race,  and,  as  a  natural  conse 
quence,  continue  to  suffer  from  the  hatred  and 
persecutions  of  the  world,  which  have  been  so 
grievous  ever  since  Diocletian  issued  the  edicts  for 


EUSEBIUS  OFFERETH  THE  BANDS     211 

our  destruction  in  the  years  303  and  304,  which 
hard  laws  the  present  Emperor  Maxentius  strictly 
enforceth  everywhere;  so  that  neither  at  home,  nor 
on  the  way,  nor  even  here  beneath  the  surface  of 
the  earth  hath  any  Christian  assurance  of  his  life. 

;'  When  I  think  of  how  the  church  must  triumph 
under  the  imperial  protection  —  how  in  place  of 
being  outcast,  persecuted  and  despised,  she  would 
at  once  become  honorable  and  respectable  in  the 
eyes  of  the  heathen;  when  I  think  of  what  vast 
opportunities  for  greater  good  the  emperor's  favor 
will  afford,  it  seemeth  to  me  that  it  would  be 
mere  madness  and  fanaticism  to  reject  these  over 
tures  of  peace  and  protection,  and  willfully  cast 
aside  the  honor,  wealth,  power  and  glory  which 
the  long  and  sorely  persecuted  church  must 
begin  to  gather  as  the  fruits  of  the  proposed 
alliance !  " 

To  him  Epaphras  thus  replied:  "  Brethren,  I 
marvel  greatly  that  any  Christian  bishop  should 
even  speak  to  you  of  earthly  honor,  wealth,  power 
and  glory ;  and  marvel  more  that  he  should  advise 
you  to  follow  after  all  these  things,  for  which, 
indeed,  the  heathen  seek.  Will  some  one  tell  me 
what  business  we  Christians  have  with  any 
*  honor '  except  that  of  our  Lord?  With  any 
'  wealth  '  except  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ? 
With  any  *  power  '  except  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  ?  With  any  '  glory  '  except  to  glory  in  the 


212     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

cross  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  by  which  we  are 
crucified  unto  the  world  and  the  world  unto  us? 

''  They  propose  an  '  alliance '  between  the 
church,  the  bride  of  Jesus,  and  the  Roman  Empire. 
Let  us  consider  what  is  involved  in  this  proposed 
blending  of  light  and  darkness;  this  concord  be 
tween  Belial  and  Christ. 

"  So  far  as  spiritual  truth  is  concerned,  we  must 
blend  the  faith  of  Christ  with  that  of  pagan  Rome 
—  a  thing  impossible  for  Christian  men  to  do  — 
or  Constantine  must  subvert  the  whole  vast  ma 
chinery  of  heathen  law  and  religion,  and  I  ask  you 
to  consider  whether  that  is  possible  for  him. 

"  So  far  as  the  sociology  and  politics  of  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven  is  concerned,  either  the 
church  must  abandon  the  gospel  of  Christ  and  be 
conformed  unto  the  world,  or  else  the  Romans 
must  subvert  the  empire  before  any  such  alliance 
can  be  possible!  Unjust  wars,  prosecuted  for 
gain  and  conquest  through  the  four  quarters  of  the 
world,  are  the  chief  glory  of  Rome,  imbedded  in 
her  laws  and  customs,  in  her  traditions  and  re 
ligion.  But  ye  all  do  know  that  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  hath  forbidden  Christians  to  bear  arms  at 
all,  and  ye  know  that  from  the  sorrowful  night  in 
which  Peter  smote  the  high-priest's  servant  and 
cut  off  an  ear,  for  which  our  Lord  rebuked  him, 
no  Christian,  and  no  body  of  Christians,  hath  ever 
lifted  up  a  carnal  weapon,  even  in  self-defense. 


EUSEBIUS  OFFERETH  THE  BANDS     213 

How  can  these  antagonistic  principles  of  action 
unite?  Will  the  empire  abolish  war?  or  can  the 
church  consent  to  see  her  redeemed  sons  enrolled 
among  the  butchers  and  stabbers,  paid  and  trained, 
to  murder  other  men  for  whom  also  our  Saviour 
died? 

"  Ye  know  also  that  the  greater  part  of  the  peo 
ple  of  the  empire  and  of  Italy,  and  of  Rome 
especially,  are  slaves,  and  that  the  slave-code  is 
rooted  in  the  laws,  customs,  traditions,  and  re 
ligion  of  the  empire.  But  ye  also  know  that  Jesus 
teaches  the  inevitable  personal  responsibility  of 
every  man  —  a  responsibility  based  as  much  upon 
rights  for  man  as  upon  duties  —  a  truth  which  is, 
logically  and  spiritually,  the  antithesis  of  that 
enslaved  condition  in  which  our  Lord's  advent 
found  the  human  race;  ye  know  that  under  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  slavery  hath  faded  just 
in  the  ratio  that  the  church  hath  triumphed,  be 
cause  Jesus  promised  that  the  truth  should  make 
us  free,  and  the  liberty  of  the  gospel  is  a  charter 
of  freedom  to  the  slave.  How  can  there  be  con 
cord  or  alliance  between  this  gospel  and  the 
Roman  slave-code?  Dare  ye  to  seal  with  the  pre 
cious  blood  of  your  crucified  Redeemer  a  compact 
giving  the  sanction  of  His  church  to  human  slav 
ery?  Or  think  ye  that  the  ruling  classes  of  the 
empire  will  voluntarily  abolish  this  inhuman 
wrong,  and  of  their  own  accord  surrender  the 


2i4     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

profit  which  they  have  by  the  ownership  of  men, 
and  the  convenience  and  consideration  they  derive 
therefrom  ? 

'  Ye  know  that  the  laws,  customs  and  religion 
of  the  empire  are  founded  upon  the  false  and 
cruel,  social  and  political  distinctions  which  grow, 
like  poison-weeds,  out  of  accidents  of  rank,  pre 
rogative,  and  wealth !  These  are  the  real  gods 
of  the  idolators;  these  the  rewards  which  Mam 
mon  offers  to  his  votaries !  But  ye  also  know  that 
our  Lord  Jesus  required  all  such  distinctions  to 
be  abolished  among  all  those  who  believe;  that 
they  may  be  brethren,  that  they  may  call  no  man 
master,  since  one  is  their  master,  even  Christ,  and, 
therefore,  to  hold  all  property  by  a  communal 
title,  and  not  by  any  individual  right  or  claim. 
Ye  know  that  when  some,  through  want  of  faith, 
endeavored  to  gain  admission  into  the  church,  and 
at  the  same  time  to  evade  the  binding  obligation 
of  that  fundamental  law  of  the  kingdom  which 
required  them  to  put  their  private  wealth  into  the 
common  fund,  Peter  declared  that  their  crime  was 
an  attempt  to  deceive  the  Holy  Ghost  and  to  de 
fraud  the  church,  and  the  wrath  of  God  fell  on 
them  so  that  they  died;  and  ye  know  that  of  all 
the  countless  idols  of  the  heathen  our  Lord  de 
nounces  one  by  name  —  Mammon.  To  worship 
whom  is  only  to  adopt  social  and  political  systems 
which  recognize  and  maintain  individual  right  to 


EUSEBIUS  OFFERETH  THE  BANDS      215 

acquire,  hold  and  transmit  property,  thereby  mak 
ing  all  pagan  governments  inure  to  the  benefit  of 
the  few  and  to  the  oppression  of  the  many,  and 
rendering  true  liberty  and  religion  impossible  for 
the  masses  of  mankind.  How  can  there  be  al 
liance  between  Christ's  common  church  and  the 
Roman  Empire  ?  Think  ye  that  unconverted  men 
will  transfer  their  riches  to  the  church,  and  con 
secrate  unrighteous  mammon  to  the  good  of  all, 
in  order  to  gain  admittance  thereto?  Verily,  a 
camel  shall  sooner  pass  through  a  needle's  eye! 
Or,  will  ye  dare  with  sacrilegious  hands  to  seal  a 
compact  binding  the  church  to  give  her  sanction 
to  property  —  laws  directly  antagonistic  to  the 
fundamental  law  of  the  church  —  laws  that  prac 
tically  make  riches  God? 

"  If  ye  shall  induce  the  church  of  Christ  to 
adopt  and  endorse  the  social,  political  and  re 
ligious  system  of  Rome,  that  is  simply  to  abandon 
Jesus,  and  there  are  many  who  will  refuse,  at  any 
hazard,  to  follow  you  one  step !  If  ye  shall  in 
duce  the  church  to  make  a  covenant  with  Con- 
stantine  that  he  will  shove  pagan  gods  aside,  and 
substitute  for  them  a  secularized  church,  bearing 
the  same  relation  to  the  empire  that  paganism  now 
sustains,  that  is  only  to  set  up  the  Anti-Christ;  and 
Constantine  is  he ! 

"  Moreover,  brethren,  ye  all  know  that  to 
abandon  communism  of  believers  is  to  surrender, 


2i6     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

also,  the  thaumaturgical  powers  which  are  ap 
purtenant  to  the  common  church  only,  and  can 
only  be  exercised  for  the  common  good  of  all 
Christians;  and  the  ecclesiasticism  which  ye  shall 
have  substituted  for  the  gospel  will  be  a  human 
institution  that  must  be  perpetuated  by  only  human 
agencies  or  fail;  because  when  ye  accept  this  al 
lowance  ye  abandon  all  of  the  gospel  except  the 
single  spiritual  truth  of  justification  by  faith, 
which  truth  alone  may  save  some  souls  of  man, 
but  never  can  convert  mankind. 

u  I,  therefore,  counsel  that  we  at  once  decree 
that  the  church  cannot  make  an  alliance  with  any 
temporal  government  without  abandoning  the 
gospel  of  Christ,  and  that  this  we  will  not  do, 
preferring  rather,  if  need  be,  the  sword,  the 
fagots  and  the  cross,  as  from  the  beginning  our 
fathers  have  always  done." 

Then  a  clamor  arose,  many  crying  out:  ;'  It  is 
enough !  "  "  Take  a  vote !  "  "  We  will  die  for 
Christ,  but  will  not  betray  him!"  "It  is  too 
much  to  pay  for  peace!  " 

And  Eusebius,  well  seeing  that  if  a  vote  were 
taken  then,  the  proposition  of  Epaphras  would 
prevail  by  the  common  consent,  arose,  and,  with 
his  wonderfully  persuasive  voice  and  manner, 
spoke  as  follows:  "  Brethren,  if,  indeed,  the  ac 
ceptance  of  the  emperor's  proposal  should  involve 
any  such  consequences  as  have  been  urged  by  the 


EUSEBIUS  OFFERETH  THE  BANDS     217 

most  pious  and  learned  Epaphras,  I  freely  admit 
that  we  ought  at  once  to  reject  it.  But  if  we  be 
agreed  that  we  cannot  accept  this  proposition,  ye 
all  see  that  there  certainly  can  be  no  need  to 
affront  the  haughty  and  powerful  Constantine  by 
rough  or  precipitate  action.  On  the  contrary,  as 
far  as  in  us  lies  we  should  endeavor  to  live  peace 
fully  with  all  men.  I,  therefore,  counsel  that  the 
matter  be  not  finally  determined  at  this  time,  but 
rather  that  we  leave  it  undetermined  (which,  in 
deed,  seemeth  sufficient  to  accomplish  all  that  the 
excellent  Epaphras  desireth),  and  that  in  the 
meantime  we  take  proper  steps  both  to  furnish 
the  emperor  with  the  information  which  he  has 
very  kindly  and  courteously  desired,  and  also  to 
learn  with  preciseness  just  what  he  would  require 
of  the  church,  and  that  we  carefully  consider  how, 
and  to  what  extent,  that  which  he  may  really  de 
sire  can  affect  the  spread  of  gospel  truth.  And 
I  counsel  this  all  the  more  earnestly,  brethren, 
because  I  have  both  seen  and  conversed  with  the 
man  Constantine,  and  believe  that  he  is  intellectu 
ally  a  greater  man  than  any  other  Roman.  He  is 
most  temperate,  studious  and  chaste.  He  is  very 
favorably  inclined  to  our  holy  faith,  and  we 
should  not  quench  the  smoking  flax.  Let  us, 
therefore,  delay;  and  if  we  should  find  it  proper 
to  reject  all  overtures  that  may  be  made,  let  us 
so  act  as  that  the  emperor  may  perceive  our  re- 


2i8     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

fusal  to  be  of  conscience  only,  and  not  of  pride, 
hatred  or  uncharitableness.  For  I  yet  hope  to  sec 
this  emperor  a  Christian." 

Then,  cried  out  Epaphras  in  a  loud  voice: 
"  Thou  knowest  that  no  emperor  can  be  a  Chris 
tian;  for  a  Christian  must  be  the  brother,  not  the 
legal  master,  of  other  Christians.  The  church  can 
recognize  no  king  but  Christ !  " 

But,  nevertheless,  the  moderate  counsel  of 
Eusebius  prevailed,  and  Christ  suffered  again 
from  the  unchristian  spirit  of  compromise  which 
made  the  Procurator  Pontius  Pilate  seek  to  wash 
his  own  hands  clean  of  the  innocent  blood! 

And  so  the  bishop  was  instructed  to  send  an 
embassy  to  Constantine,  with  accurate  information 
of  the  numerical  strength  and  other  resources  of 
the  church ;  and  to  learn  with  exactness  what  might 
be  those  conditions  on  which  a  heathen  emperor 
would  take  under  his  protection  the  church  of  the 
living  God. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

IN   WHICH   THE    BARBARIAN    IS    CIVILIZED 

TV/TEANTIME  the  centurion  had  made  his 
-*•-*•  weekly  visit  to  the  catacombs,  and  Dorcas 
had  given  to  him  beautiful  parchments  contain 
ing  the  Four  Gospels  and  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles, 
and  the  young  man  had  read  them  over  and  over 
again  with  a  strange,  absorbing  interest,  and  espe 
cially  the  very  words  of  Jesus,  until  he  could  have 
written  out  from  memory  almost  every  passage 
contained  therein.  He  desired  to  understand 
precisely  what  Christianity,  as  Christ  Himself 
propounded  it,  really  contained,  and  believed  that 
he  had  done  so. 

After  the  services  were  ended  upon  the  follow 
ing  Sabbath,  and  he  and  Epaphras  and  Dorcas 
had  remained  in  the  chapel  after  the  withdrawal 
of  the  congregation,  as  was  their  pleasant  custom, 
Marcellus  handed  back  the  parchments  to  Dorcas, 
saying:  "  I  thank  thee  much,  dear  Dorcas,  for 
the  privilege  of  perusing  these  wonderful  books, 
which  I  have  read  a  number  of  times  over  with 
continual  delight  and  interest.  Somehow  the 

219 


220     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

heart  ever  groweth  more  warm  unto  this  sinless, 
loving  Nazarene,  and  the  mind  seems  to  be  ex 
alted  and  chastened  by  reading  what  these  Gospels 
say  of  Him.  I  desire  to  have  a  copy  thereof 
made  for  mine  own  use,  and  if  it  is  permitted  to 
do  so,  I  will  bring  hither  the  parchments;  and 
wilt  thou  aid  me?  " 

"  Nay,  friend,"  said  Dorcas.  "  These  are  even 
thine;  for  with  mine  own  hand  began  I  long  ago 
to  transcribe  them  for  thec.  Nevertheless,  thou 
hadst  best  leave  them  here  until  this  prosecuting 
spirit  of  the  Romans  shall  exhaust  itself,  as  it 
would  be  dangerous  to  have  them  found  in  thy 
possession." 

"  And  thou  didst  write  these  books,"  he  said, 
looking  at  the  voluminous  manuscript,  "  for  me? 
Ah,  Dorcas,  thou  canst  not  know  how  sacred  thy 
hand  hath  rendered  them  in  my  eyes." 

Then  said  Dorcas :  "  It  was  a  labor  of  love, 
Marcellus,  because  I  love  the  word;  and  also  be 
cause  it  was  for  thee.  I  have  made  other  copies 
beside  this,  also,  of  these  books,  and  of  all  the 
Epistles,  and  of  the  Revelation;  and  when  I  did 
copy  the  Medea  for  the  Vice-Prefect  Varus,  one 
day  I  brought  hither  the  first  skin  of  those  parch 
ments,  and  did  write  thereon  an  illuminated  initial 
letter,  such  as  thou  seest  in  thy  Gospels  here,  and 
Varus  when  he  saw  it  was  much  gratified  and  said 
to  me :  '  Child,  it  is  beautiful !  Who  taught 


THE  BARBARIAN  IS  CIVILIZED        221 

thee  that?'  And  I  did  laugh,  but  did  not  an 
swer  him." 

Then  said  Marcellus:  "  Have  ye  other  sacred 
books?  Do  they  contain  more  full  accounts  of 
Jesus?  Or  is  all  that  He  taught  and  did,  the 
whole  of  His  system,  fully  set  forth  in  the  simple 
and  beautiful  parchment  I  have  read?  " 

Then  said  Epaphras:  "There  is  nothing  in 
Christianity  that  must  be  believed  or  done  that  is 
not  fully  taught  in  the  Four  Gospels  and  the  Acts. 
True,  we  have  the  sacred  writings  of  the  Jews, 
beginning  with  the  Mosaic  accounts  of  the  crea 
tion,  which  trace  the  descent  of  Abraham  from 
Adam,  and  which,  also,  contain  the  whole  of  the 
national,  social  and  religious  history  of  the  Jews 
for  centuries  before  the  foundations  of  Rome  were 
begun.  But  the  whole  of  this  law  and  prophecy 
was,  as  a  school-master,  to  lead  us  unto  Christ, 
and  was  fulfilled  in  Him.  We  have,  also,  vari 
ous  letters  of  Paul,  and  others,  written  to  the 
churches  since  the  death  of  Jesus;  but  these  Epis 
tles  relate  chiefly  to  controversies  between  the  Jews 
and  the  Christians,  and  between  the  Christians  and 
the  heathen,  and  the  philosophers;  and  are,  also, 
hortatory  to  the  churches;  and  we  have  the  Rev 
elation  of  John,  but  the  time  is  not  yet  come  to 
fully  understand  his  sayings.  All  the  other  sacred 
writings  are  useful  only  in  proving,  illustrating 
and  enforcing,  what  the  Four  Gospels  and  the 


222     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

Acts  contain;  and  unless  one  should  desire  to  edu 
cate  himself  to  teach  or  to  preach,  I  do  not  think 
it  necessary  or  even  profitable  for  him  to  read  or 
study  them.  But  wilt  thou  tell  me,  centurion, 
what  thou  thinkest  of  these  books?  What  thine 
estimate  of  Christianity  may  be?  What  is  it  that 
the  books  teach  thee?  " 

Then  the  centurion  replied:  "  I  fear  thou  wilt 
be  disappointed  at  the  meagerness  and  simplicity 
of  the  system,  which  is  all  that  I  am  able  to  ad 
duce  from  a  short  but  earnest  study  of  these  five 
parchments;  for  the  first  thing  that  impressed 
itself  upon  my  mind  is  the  fact  that  the  teaching 
of  Jesus,  unlike  that  of  Greek  and  Roman  phi 
losophers  and  priests,  is  absolutely  barren  of 
dogmas  and  of  doctrines.  His  appeals  are  made 
to,  his  proofs  are  drawn  from,  the  heart  and  con 
sciousness  of  every  man,  and  not  to  and  from 
dogmas  and  authority.  And  it  seems  to  me  that 
no  sane  man  can  deny  the  truth  of  anything  which 
His  teachings  assume  to  be  true;  for  He  seems  to 
me  to  know  just  what  is  in  the  human  heart." 

'  That  is  the  exact  truth,"  said  Epaphras. 
"  No  bishop  could  state  the  case  with  greater  ac 
curacy.  Jesus  teaches  no  dogmas,  despises  all 
philosophers,  forms,  customs  and  ceremonies,  and 
deals  directly  with  the  heart  and  consciousness  of 
each  individual !  " 

"  The  second  thing  which  impressed  me  most 


THE  BARBARIAN  IS  CIVILIZED        223 

powerfully,  and  I  confess  filled  me  with  astonish 
ment,  is  the  fact  that  Jesus  does  not  announce  any 
new  truth  even  of  a  spiritual  character.  The 
Jews  must  have  known  all  that  He  taught.  The 
rewards  of  faith,  and  the  immortality  of  the  soul, 
are  assumed  by  Him  to  be  well-known  and  gen 
erally  accepted  truths;  only  the  Sadducees  con 
troverted  this  position.  He  offers  Himself  as  the 
proper  object  of  human  faith,  the  Messiah  in 
whom  they  believed,  and  whom  they  were  expect 
ing;  and  this  claim  that  He  was  the  Christ  is  all 
that  seems  to  be  new  in  His  teachings." 

*  Thou  hast  rightly  read  the  word,'7  said 
Epaphras,  "  and  thine  estimate  is  good.  What 
else  hast  thou  learned?  " 

"  I  find,"  said  Marcellus,  "  that  this  simple 
creed  of  faith  in  Christ  has  far  less  to  do  with 
Elysium  or  Hades  —  the  condition  of  the  soul 
after  death  —  than  with  the  temporal  life  and 
welfare  of  mankind.  I  have  reckoned  up  some 
seventy-two  parables  spoken  by  Jesus,  of  which 
only  two  seem  to  refer  to  the  future  life,  and  all 
the  others  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven  upon  earth, 
which  kingdom  is  plainly  set  forth  as  a  democracy, 
in  which  equality  and  fraternity  of  all  believers  is 
secured  by  the  denial  of  the  right  to  bear  arms, 
or  to  engage  in  war,  by  abolishing  all  serfdom 
and  slavery,  and  by  abolishing  the  right  to  ac 
quire,  hold  or  transmit  private  rights  of  property, 


224     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

including  in  the  word  *  property/  not  only  estates, 
real  and  personal,  but  all  offices,  prerogatives  and 
privileges,  so  that  there  may  be  equality,  partner 
ship,  fellowship,  among  believers,  and  that  the 
man  who  is  most  esteemed  and  loved  may  be  the 
man  who  does  the  most  good  for  others.  And  I 
understand  that  Jesus  ordained  monogamic  mar 
riage,  and  prohibited  divorce,  so  that  the  family 
might  be  the  basis  for  Christian  civilization,  which 
is  the  common  church.  But  Jesus  says  that  in  all 
this  He  taught  nothing  new  —  only  fulfilled  the 
Jewish  law  and  prophecies." 

"  Verily  thou  hast  read  the  parchments  with  the 
spirit  and  the  understanding,  centurion!  Thou 
hast  grasped  the  very  gospel  of  Christ  in  the  full 
ness  of  its  divine  simplicity  and  purity!  But  is 
there  aught  else  that  thou  hast  learned?" 

"  Yea,"  answered  Marcellus,  "  there  is  one 
other  thing  that  seemeth,  indeed,  to  be  the  very 
heart  of  the  whole  matter,  of  which  I  hesitate  to 
speak  —  for  it  is  somehow  a  most  mysterious  and 
sacred  thing  —  it  is  that  of  which  Christ  talked 
with  Nicodemus." 

1  Yea,"  cried  the  presbyter,  "  the  Palingenesis 
—  the  new  birth.  Thou  mayest  believe,  Marcel 
lus  —  perhaps  thou  dost  already  believe  —  that 
Jesus  is  the  Christ;  thou  mayest  believe  that  His 
teachings  in  regard  to  war,  in  regard  to  personal 
liberty  for  all  men  and  personal  accountability,  in 


THE  BARBARIAN  IS  CIVILIZED        225 

regard  to  property  and  in  regard  to  marriage,  are 
divinely  true,  surpassing  all  human  laws,  philan 
thropy  and  statesmanship  —  and  yet  not  be  a 
Christian  i  Of  all  these  things  thou  mayest  com 
mune  with  thy  friends,  as  thou  has  been  accus 
tomed  to  do  with  us;  but  one  step  beyond  this  is 
the  Holy  of  Holies;  one  step  beyond  this  bring- 
eth  thee,  and  every  man,  to  the  supreme  question 
of  human  life,  which  only  thou  and  thy  Lord  can 
settle.  *  Wilt  thou  have  the  man  Christ  Jesus  to 
reign  over  thee  ? '  Here  the  mediation  of  an 
angel  would  be  an  impertinence  to  thee  and  to  thy 
God;  the  intermeddling  of  presbyter,  or  of  bishop, 
would  be  a  blasphemy.  No  man  can  aid  thee 
here.  It  is  the  voluntary  and  conscious  rejection 
of  Jesus,  or  else  it  is  the  voluntary,  conscious  and 
unreserved  submission  of  thy  will  to  the  will  of 
Christ,  and  that  thing  thou  and  He  must  settle 
as  thou  wilt.  Thou  hast  no  further  need  of  me, 
my  son.  Farewell. " 

Then  rose  Epaphras  up,  and  took  his  lamp,  and 
quietly  departed  out  of  the  chapel.  But  the 
maiden  Dorcas  slipped  down  upon  her  knees  be 
side  the  youth,  and  clasped  her  yearning  arms 
about  him,  and  hid  her  sweet  face  in  his  breast, 
and  his  open  hand  lay  on  her  shining  hair. 

There  was  no  metaphysical  haze,  nor  dreami 
ness,  nor  mystery,  about  it.  Epaphras  had  set 
him  face  to  face  with  the  great  question,  and  then 


226     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

began  in  his  own  soul  the  terrible  contest  of  which 
the  souls  of  all  men  have  been  somehow,  some 
time,  in  some  form  or  other,  the  everlasting  battle 
field. 

He  understood  perfectly  well  just  what  it 
meant.  There  was  no  place  for  self-deception. 
Christ,  he  knew,  could  never  be  deceived.  Either 
he  could  reject  Jesus  and  go  his  own  way,  to 
gather  all  the  blessings  of  the  world;  or  he  could 
submit  himself  to  Jesus,  go  whithersoever  he 
might  order,  and  forfeit  all.  What  must  he  do? 
He  was  young,  intelligent,  wealthy.  He  was  a 
centurion  already  and  was  thoroughly  accom 
plished  in  his  profession  of  arms;  he  was  of  an  old 
and  honorable  family;  the  Roman  world  was  al 
most  in  his  grasp;  he  could,  by  an  act  of  the  will 
alone,  stifle  the  intangible  sense  of  duty,  silence 
the  speechless  voice  of  conscience  and  gratify  all 
human  lusts  and  ambitions  as  few  men  have  ever 
had  the  opportunity  to  do;  or  he  could  turn  his 
back  upon  all  those  material  advantages,  renounce 
his  already  important  position  in  the  empire,  sub 
ject  himself  to  the  pity  and  contempt  of  his  asso 
ciates,  and  to  the  measureless  scorn  of  the  proud 
class  to  which  he  belonged,  to  enter  upon  a  life 
of  poverty,  self-denial,  esteemed  to  be  infamous, 
full  of  toils  and  danger,  leading,  perhaps,  to 
martyrdom.  What  must  he  do  ? 

Epaphras   was   right.     No  mortal  could   give 


THE  BARBARIAN  IS  CIVILIZED        227 

him  any  aid;  it  was  a  business  to  be  transacted 
between  his  soul  and  Christ. 

The  struggle  grew  more  and  more  desperate 
every  instant ;  his  brows  knitted,  and  his  lips  grew 
white,  and  his  bosom  heaved  tempestuously  with 
fierce  agony  and  strife.  Hour  after  hour  the 
fearful  contest  shook  him,  soul  and  body.  But 
the  young  girl  would  not  leave  him.  Kneeling 
beside  him,  she  suffered  with  him,  and  all  her  heart 
yearned  over  him;  but  hardly  did  either  of  them 
speak.  Often  prayed  she  for  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
descend  upon  him.  Again  she  sat  near  him,  with 
his  hand  in  hers. 

Finally  the  tempest  passed  away.  In  the 
depths  of  his  own  heart,  freely,  voluntarily,  with 
a  painfully  distinct  consciousness  of  all  the  con 
sequences  that  might  follow,  he  consecrated  him 
self,  soul  and  body,  once  for  all,  for  life  and 
death,  for  time  and  eternity,  to  Jesus  Christ  and 
His  service;  and  a  great  calm,  full  of  peace 
and  joy,  came  over  him.  With  a  radiant  smile 
upon  his  worn  and  haggard  face,  he  said  most 
simply:  "It  is  all  over,  Dorcas;  I  will  follow 
Jesus  Christ." 

Then  the  floodgates  of  long-restrained  emotions 
were  opened  in  her  heart,  and  the  young  maiden 
laughed,  and  cried,  and  sang  praises  to  her 
God,  all  in  a  breath,  and  she  did  kiss  Mar- 
cellus  over  and  over  again,  saying  continually: 


228     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

(  Thank  God  for  thee,  Marcellus !  Praise  the 
Lord,  oh,  my  soul !  for  His  loving  kindness  —  oh, 
how  great!  And  His  mercy  endureth  forever.'* 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

IN  WHICH  EUSEBIUS  SHOWETH  THE  SWADDLING- 
BANDS   OF    CONSTANTINE 

T?USEBIUS,  who  was  the  principal  one  among 
•"  those  who  were  nominated  to  go  upon  the 
embassage  to  Constantine,  undertook  the  long 
journey  to  Lutetia  with  good  hope,  and  right 
speedily  accomplished  it.  The  church  statistics 
which  he  laid  before  the  emperor  filled  him  with 
astonishment,  and  at  first  with  alarm,  but  his 
anxiety  speedily  changed  into  pleasure  when  he 
had  been  more  fully  informed  of  the  doctrines 
and  practices  of  the  Christians.  For  he  was  so 
astute  a  politician  "  that  the  passive  and  unre 
sisting  obedience  which  bows  under  the  yoke  of 
authority  or  even  of  oppression  appeared  in  the 
eyes  of  an  absolute  monarch  the  most  conspicuous 
and  useful  of  the  evangelic  virtues."  For  as  the 
Christians  were  forbidden  by  their  faith  "  to  em 
ploy  force  even  in  defense  of  their  religion,  they 
would  be  still  more  criminal  if  they  were  tempted 
to  shed  the  blood  of  their  fellow-creatures  in  dis 
puting  the  vain  privileges  or  the  sordid  possessions 
of  this  transitory  life."  So  that  he  had  no  fear 

229 


230     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

of  their  great  numbers  and  opulent  resources  when 
he  learned  that  the  Christians,  "  Faithful  to  the 
doctrine  of  the  Apostle  who,  in  the  reign  of  Nero, 
had  preached  the  duty  of  unconditional  submission 
during  the  first  three  centuries,  had  preserved  their 
consciences  pure  and  innocent  of  the  guilt  of  secret 
conspiracy  or  of  open  rebellion.  While  they  ex 
perienced  the  rigor  of  persecution  they  were  never 
provoked  either  to  meet  their  tyrants  in  the  field 
or  indignantly  to  withdraw  themselves  into  some 
remote  and  sequestered  corner  of  the  world."  So 
that  Constantine's  first  emotion  of  alarm  at  the 
discovery  of  a  body  of  men  so  numerous,  so  zeal 
ous  and  so  thoroughly  organized  "  that  they 
constituted  a  distinct  democracy,  which  was  al 
ready  governed  by  its  own  laws  and  officers,  was 
possessed  of  a  common  treasure  and  was  intimately 
connected  through  all  its  parts  by  the  frequent  as 
semblies  of  its  bishops,  to  whose  decrees  their 
numerous  and  opulent  congregations  yielded  im 
plicit  obedience,"  was  entirely  removed  upon 
learning  the  tenets  of  their  faith,  which  rendered 
them  a  valuable,  but  not  a  dangerous  element,  in 
the  population  of  the  empire.  For  the  far-seeing 
Constantine  at  once  perceived  that  there  would 
always  be  soldiers  enough  unless  all  people  should 
become  Christians,  and  saw  that  if  all  became 
Christians  there  would  be  no  need  of  soldiers,  but 
that  swords  might  be  beaten  into  plowshares  and 


THE  SWADDLING-BANDS  231 

spears  into  pruning-hooks;  and  that  while  this 
change  was  in  progress  (if  indeed  it  ever  should 
occur)  the  resources  of  the  empire  would  be  kept 
increasing  by  the  peaceful  industry  of  the  Chris 
tian  communities. 

"I  must  have,"  he  said  unto  Eusebuis — "I 
must  have  the  friendship  of  this  great  and  won 
derful  community.  On  what  terms  can  I  obtain 
it?" 

"  I  judge  from  the  spirit  of  the  council  called 
to  consider  the  matter,"  said  Eusebius,  u  that  it 
would  be  well-nigh  impossible  to  induce  them  to 
bear  arms  in  any  cause;  because  by  the  teachings 
of  Christ  and  by  the  practice  of  the  church  for 
three  centuries  they  are  forbidden  to  do  so." 

"  Then,"  said  Constantine,  "  the  same  supersti 
tion  that  forbids  them  to  bear  arms  in  my  behalf 
ought  also  to  prevent  them  from  affording  any 
assistance  to  Maxentius." 

"  Assuredly,"  answered  Eusebius,  "  except  that 
they  pay  taxes  to  the  powers  that  be;  to  thine  if 
they  be  under  thy  dominion;  to  Maxentius  while 
he  bears  rule.  If  they  could  be  induced  to  go  to 
war  at  all  they  would  recruit  an  army  for  thee. 
But  for  three  centuries  they  have  steadily  refused 
to  bear  arms  even  in  defense  of  the  faith  for 
which  they  do  not  hesitate  to  die." 

"  I  must  have  this  people,"  said  Constantine. 
"  I  will  have  them.  Thou  mayest  take  back  to 


232     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

them  my  pledge  that  I  will  exempt  all  Christians 
from  military  service  and  leave  them  in  full  en 
joyment  of  their  own  democratic  institutions." 

"  Permit  me  to  suggest,"  said  Eusebius,  "  that 
thine  imperial  mandate  go  not  quite  so  far.  Let 
it  be  left  as  a  matter  of  conscience  to  each  indi 
vidual;  for  there  be  many  Christians  who  would 
serve  if  the  church  did  not  forbid  it,  and  the 
clergy  insist  mightily  upon  liberty  of  conscience." 

"  So  let  it  be,"  answered  the  emperor;  "  for  in 
many  things  I  prefer  the  system  of  these  Chris 
tians  to  any  that  is  known  in  history.  Wouldst 
thou  advise  me  to  profess  this  faith,  and  join  the 
church?" 

"  Nay,"  answered  Eusebius.  "  They  fully  un 
derstand  that  no  emperor  can  be  a  Christian  with 
out  ceasing  to  be  an  emperor.  The  church  is 
democracy,  liberty,  equality,  fraternity.  No 
bishop  would  baptize  thee  unless  thou  first  resign 
thy  scepter." 

"  Speak  thou  freely,"  said  Constantine.  "  I 
desire  to  know  thy  very  thoughts,  without  re 


serve." 


"  I  think,"  answered  the  wise  Eusebius,  "  that 
thou  hast  discovered  the  deepest  political  truth  of 
this  century,  in  holding  that  the  best  subjects  for 
an  absolute  monarch  are  those  who,  like  the  Chris 
tians,  will  not  bear  arms  at  all  —  for  such  I 
perceive  to  be  thy  sentiment.  But  the  Christians 


THE  SWADDLING-BANDS  233 

hold  other  doctrines  with  equal  tenacity  and  un 
swerving  faith.  They  are  opposed  to  slavery, 
and  no  Christian  will  own  a  slave.  They  utterly 
deny  the  right  of  the  individual  to  acquire,  hold, 
or  transmit  private  property,  and  the  church  holds 
all  in  common  for  the  good  of  all.  They  con 
sider  monogamic  marriage  a  sacrament  of 
religion;  deny  the  lawfulness  of  divorce,  and  con 
stitute  the  family  the  basis  of  society,  and  the 
church  the  only  superstructure  that  Christians  can 
lawfully  aid  in  erecting  thereon.  Any  profession 
of  faith  that  is  not  followed  by  the  practice  of 
these  social  and  political  principles  they  would 
believe  to  be  hypocritical,  and  would  regard  with 
loathing  and  contempt.  So  that  it  is  impossible 
for  Augustus  to  conform  his  life  to  these  funda 
mental  laws  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven." 

"  But,"  exclaimed  Constantine,  "  I  must  have 
this  people!  And,  by  Jupiter  Ammon,  I  will 
have  them !  " 

Then  he  sprang  from  his  seat  and  paced  the 
room  with  rapid  strides  until  he  had  regained  his 
equanimity.  Then  he  sat  down  in  front  of  Euse- 
bius  and  fixed  his  splendid  eyes  upon  him  with  4 
gaze  as  calm  and  searching  as  if  he  sought  to  read 
his  very  soul,  and  presently  he  said:  "  Art  thou 
a  Christian?  " 

And  the  mellifluous  voice  of  Eusebius  answered 
in  placid,  liquid  tones : 


234     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

"  I  am  a  bishop  of  the  church  of  Christ." 

"  Is  that  the  highest  rank  known  to  the  Chris 
tian  democracy?" 

"  Yea.  We  have  no  apostles  now,  and  all 
bishops  possess  equal  authority  —  the  power  and 
influence  exercised  by  them  depending  only  upon 
the  respective  character  of  the  individual  and  the 
locality,  numbers,  and  opulence  of  his  church." 

Then  said  Constantine,  musingly :  "  The  high- 
priest  of  the  Sanhedrim  at  Jerusalem;  the  chief  of 
the  Order  of  the  Druids  in  Britain;  the  Flamen  of 
Jupiter,  Pontifex  Maximus  at  Rome;  the  bishops 
of  the  church  of  Christ  —  they  are  all  men,  and 
all  alike."  And  then  he  continued  in  a  lower 
tone :  "  If  thou  canst  bring  the  Christian  com 
munities  over  to  me,  what  good  thing  dost  thou 
desire  for  thyself?  Speak  boldly,  without  lying 
or  equivocation!  I  will  have  no  evasion,  or 
crookedness  in  any  man  with  whom  I  talk." 

"  I  should  expect  to  receive,"  said  Eusebius, 
placidly,  "  and  think  that  I  would  deserve,  the 
confidence  and  favor  of  the  greatest  emperor  that 
hath  ever  governed  Rome." 

Then  the  two  most  able  men  of  that  century 
gazed  for  a  moment  into  each  other's  eyes,  and 
understood  each  other  perfectly. 

"  Now,"  said  Constantine,  "  knowing  the 
Christians  thoroughly,  as  thou  dost,  I  desire  thee 
to  advise  me  carefully  how  I  may  bind  this  people 


THE  SWADDLING-BANDS  235 

to  my  throne.  What  is  thy  counsel  —  for  thou 
art  not  a  fool,  and  thou  hast  already  sifted  this 
whole  matter  clean?'* 

Eusebius  made  a  very  singular  reply,  only 
saying : 

"Hast  thou  ever  read  'The  Acts  of  the 
Apostles'?'1 

An  angry  frown  contracted  the  brow  of  Con- 
stantine  for  a  moment,  but  it  passed  away,  and 
he  replied: 

41  No !  But  why  dost  thou  ask  a  question  so 
impertinent  to  the  matter  in  hand?  " 

Then  said  Eusebius,  still  apparently  thinking 
of  something  foreign  to  the  subject  of  their 
thoughts :  "  It  may  be  hard  for  thee  to  realize  the 
truth,  but  the  truth  is,  that  from  the  days  of  Pon 
tius  Pilate  until  now,  the  church  of  Christ,  by  the 
power  of  faith,  hath  been  accustomed  to  unstop 
the  ears  of  the  deaf,  cure  the  lame  and  the  halt, 
restore  sight  to  the  blind,  and  raise  the  dead,  and 
to  do  many  other  thaumaturgical  works,  as  the 
usual  and  proper  evidence  of  the  divinity  of  Jesus, 
and  the  right  of  the  church  to  teach  and  to  preach 
by  His  authority;  and  this  thaumaturgical  power 
is  the  secret  of  that  splendid  vitality  which  has 
enabled  the  church  to  live  and  to  flourish,  al 
though  all  the  resources  of  pagan  power  and 
civilization  have  been  deployed  against  her  from 
the  very  beginning.  Thou  wilt  understand,  there- 


236     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

fore,  that  a  miracle  to  a  Christian  does  not  seem 
to  be  any  strange  or  incredible  thing.  In  fact,  I 
have  witnessed  at  least  hundreds,  and  nearly  all 
Christians  have  seen  them.  If  thou  wilt  carefully 
read  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  to-night,  and  espe 
cially  the  dramatic  and  beautiful  account  of  the 
conversion  of  Saul  of  Tarsus,  I  will  wait  upon 
thee  in  the  morning  to  offer  thee  one  single  com 
ment  upon  that  scripture." 

'*  Thou  mayest  go,"  said  Constantine,  "  with 
the  assurance  that  I  will  read  the  book  with  care." 

When,  on  the  next  morning,  Eusebius  came  be 
fore  the  Emperor,  Constantine  immediately  spoke 
as  follows:  'The  conversion  of  Saul  of  Tarsus 
was  a  wonderful  event.  I  have  read  the  whole 
parchment  thrice,  and  that  particular  passage 
oftener  still.  I  tell  thee,  bishop,  that  the  internal 
evidences  of  its  verity  are  so  irresistible  that  I 
believe  the  story  to  be  true.  In  fact,  I  would  do 
anything  to  be  a  Christian,  except  to  resign  the 
Roman  Empire  —  that  I  will  not  do.  Now  what 
is  the  comment  on  this  scripture?  " 

Eusebius  gazed  upon  the  emperor,  and  saw  that 
Constantine  spoke  in  very  sincerity  and  truth,  and 
murmured  to  himself:  "  Many  men  have  lost 
their  souls  for  less !  " 

But  to  the  emperor  he  said:  "I  have  been 
praying  that  God  might  commission  thee  to  pro 
tect  His  church,  and  that  He  might  confirm  thy 


THE  SWADDLING-BANDS  237 

mission  by  some  sign  as  significant  and  sublime  as 
that  which  Paul  offered  as  evidence  of  his  own 
apostleship.  I  desire  of  thee  permission  to  return 
straightway  to  Rome.  If  any  authentic  informa 
tion  should  shortly  follow  me  that  the  event  for 
which  I  prayed  had  really  come  to  pass,  I  would 
thank  God  and  take  courage,  and  might  persuade 
the  church  to  accept  thee  as  their  emperor,  ap 
pointed  by  Heaven  to  bring  peace  unto  the  long 
persecuted  saints,  even  although  thou  thyself 
should  not  become  a  Christian  but  remain  the  em 
peror.  Have  I  thy  permission  to  return  at  once 
to  Rome?" 

*  Yea;  go  thou  quickly,"  said  Constantine,  with 
eagerness.  "  The  daimon  tells  me  that  the  thing 
thou  hast  desired  of  Heaven  shall  certainly  occur! 
I  have,  indeed,  a  strong  assuring  faith  that  it  will 
happen  I  Hasten  thou  to  Rome." 

And  so,  furthered  by  Constantine  by  every  aid 
that  imperial  power  could  command  up  to  the 
confines  of  Italy,  Eusebius  returned  to  Rome. 
Upon  the  occasion  of  the  former  council  this 
adroit  and  unscrupulous  man  had  carefully  ascer 
tained  and  preserved  the  name  and  address  of 
every  bishop  and  presbyter  who  had  favored  his 
own  views,  and  being  afraid  to  submit  the 
question  of  adopting  the  policy  upon  which  his 
own  heart  was  set  to  a  council  in  which  the  stern, 
incorruptible  Christian  integrity  of  Epaphras  and 


238     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

of  many  like  him  would  confront,  expose  and  over 
whelm  the  plausible  sophisms  by  which  he  had 
deceived  even  himself,  he  chose  rather  to  confer 
privily  with  those  who  had  been  inclined  to  favor 
his  own  views.  Therefore,  both  at  Rome  and 
elsewhere,  he  solicited  an  interview  with  such 
as  could  conveniently  assemble  at  each  place,  and 
obtained  their  signatures,  knowing  that  Constan- 
tine  would  not  understand  the  differences  between 
a  document  authenticated  by  their  individual 
names  and  a  decree  passed  by  the  common  consent 
in  regular  council. 

The  points  upon  which  Eusebius  insisted,  in 
these  small  but  numerous  assemblies,  with  consum 
mate  address,  were  about  as  follows:  That  upon 
further  conference  with  Constantine  he  had  found 
him  to  be  far  more  favorably  inclined  to  Chris 
tianity  than  he  had  aforetime  believed  or  repre 
sented;  that  the  emperor  would  not  require  any 
Christian  to  bear  arms,  but  would  leave  it  to  the 
conscience  of  each  one  to  determine  for  himself 
whether  he  might  do  so  or  not  —  a  "liberty  of 
conscience  "  upon  which  the  church  had  always 
insisted;  that  no  alliance  between  the  church  and 
the  emperor  was  desired,  or  even  proposed,  but 
that  the  emperor  only  desired  the  prayers  of  the 
Christians,  their  loyalty  and  friendship,  the  pay 
ment  of  customary  taxes  —  which  as  citizens  they 
had  paid  even  to  Nero  and  Diocletian  —  and 


THE  SWADDLING-BANDS  239 

wished  to  give  them  legal  protection,  if  the  church 
would  accept  it;  that  within  the  limits  of  their  own 
community  the  Christians  might  maintain  their 
laws  and  customs  unimpaired;  and  that  if  the  civil 
war,  in  which  he  was  about  to  engage,  should  be 
protracted  beyond  one  campaign,  they  must  fur 
nish  money  or  supplies,  or  both. 

Eusebius  urged  vehemently  that  these  things 
did  not  constitute  any  alliance  with  the  emperor, 
and  were  not  inconsistent  with  Christianity,  and 
in  this  plausible  statement  of  the  case  he  soon 
found  able  coadjutors  to  divide  the  work  with 
him,  and  prosecute  the  business  in  many  quarters 
simultaneously.  To  all  of  them  he  furnished  an 
answer  to  the  one  fatal  objection  "  that  any  con 
sensus  between  the  church  and  the  empire  must 
necessarily  shear  the  Christians  clear  of  all  thau- 
maturgical  powers  which  were  appurtenant  only 
to  the  pure  democracy  of  Christ,  wherein  they 
must  of  necessity  be  exercised  only  for  the  com 
mon  good,  and  could  never  be  used  to  build  up  an 
earthly  kingdom,  or  a  secularized  church,"  as 
follows :  That  it  must  be  candidly  admitted  that 
the  loss  of  thaumaturgical  power  would  in  all 
probability  follow  the  acceptance  of  the  imperial 
protection;  but  that  these  powers  were  given  only 
to  enable  the  church  to  maintain  herself  against  a 
world  hostile  to  the  claims  of  Christianity;  that 
spiritual  truth  would  be  preserved  unimpaired,  and 


240     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

that  the  miracles  which  had  been  continuously 
wrought  for  three  centuries  would  be  sufficient 
evermore  to  demonstrate  the  gospel  truth;  that 
there  could  be  no  necessity  for  continuous  miracu 
lous  aid  to  insure  the  triumph  of  the  church, 
backed  by  the  Roman  Empire,  the  mistress  of  the 
world;  and  that,  finally,  if  a  time  should  ever  ar 
rive  in  the  history  of  the  church  when  it  might 
become  necessary  to  resort  to  thaumaturgy  to 
secure  her  triumph,  the  church  could  do  so  by  cut 
ting  loose  from  all  secular  governments  and  reor 
ganizing  her  communities  on  the  primitive 
foundation  of  communism  and  faith. 

By  these  and  many  more  such  specious  argu 
ments  Eusebius  secured  a  great  number  of  signa 
tures  of  bishops  and  presbyters  to  a  parchment 
promising  what  Constantine  desired.  And  this 
was  made  the  more  easy  by  an  extraordinary 
rumor  that  became  current  among  the  Christians 
both  at  Rome  and  elsewhere.  It  was  affirmed 
that  the  Emperor  Constantine,  marching  at  the 
head  of  his  army  at  midday,  had  seen  a  miraculous 
cross  in  the  heavens  shining  above  the  brightness 
of  the  sun  and  had  seen  an  inscription  thereon  in 
the  Greek  language:  "  In  this  sign  conquer;  "  it 
was  furthermore  given  out  that  in  a  vision  of  the 
night,  Christ  or  an  angel,  had  appeared  unto  the 
emperor,  and  had  directed  him  to  take  for  a  stand 
ard  a  cross  bearing  his  own  effigy,  and  the  words 


THE  SWADDLING-BANDS  241 

which  he  had  beheld  upon  that  cross  seen  by  him 
in  heaven,  and  to  march  against  Maxentius  and 
all  his  enemies  with  the  assurance  of  success;  and 
that  he  must  be  the  Protector  of  the  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ.  It  was  further  given  out  that  the 
vision  had  directed  him  to  call  his  standard  by  a 
miraculous  name,  Labarum,  a  word  before  un 
known  to  the  human  race,  and  having  no  root  or 
origin  in  any  earthly  language.  It  was  further 
more  given  out  that  although  the  whole  army  had 
seen  the  celestial  sign,  Constantine  (because  of  the 
heathen)  desired  the  vision  and  the  words  to  be 
kept  secret  from  all  except  the  Christians. 

To  those  who  made  careful  inquiry,  what  seemed 
to  be  the  main  fact,  the  luminous  appearance 
above  the  midday  sun,  was  proved  by  incontestable 
and  overwhelming  testimony;  and  Eusebius  and 
those  who  acted  with  him  used  this  strange  story 
with  wonderful  success  in  bringing  still  others  over 
to  their  own  views;  and  many  urged  that  a  council 
be  summoned  to  consider  the  whole  matter  again. 
But  this  Eusebius  vehemently  opposed,  saying  that 
it  was  not  necessary,  and  that  Constantine  did  not 
require  their  action  to  be  taken  in  council,  being 
satisfied  with  their  signatures  and  the  revelation 
vouchsafed  to  him  constituting  him  the  Defender 
of  the  Faith.  But  when  these  things  came  to  the 
knowledge  of  Epaphras  and  those  who  agreed 
with  him  in  sentiment,  they  vigorously  endeavored 


242     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

to  secure  the  calling  of  a  council,  but  their  action 
had  been  forestalled  by  Eusebius;  and  when  they 
found  that  they  could  not  obtain  their  desires  in 
this  regard,  they  issued  a  pastoral  letter  to  all  of 
the  churches,  warning  them  against  the  course 
pursued  by  Eusebius.  And  this  letter  began  with 
the  declaration  that  "  Eusebius  had  forestalled  the 
summoning  of  a  council,  because  he  well  knew 
that  whenever  the  common  church  might  meet  to 
deliberate  upon  the  matter  the  Holy  Ghost  would 
come  upon  them,  and  would  guide  them  into  all 
truth  —  which  fact  Eusebius  feared." 

The  letter  also  said,  "  the  day  that  ye  conclude 
this  sacrilegious  bargain  miracles  will  cease;  or 
will  henceforth  occur  only  sporadically,  beyond 
any  control  or  influence  of  the  church,  and  in  such 
seemingly  accidental  ways  as  to  render  them  no 
longer  available  as  evidence  of  the  divinity  of 
Jesus.  Then  ye  will  have  nothing  left  of  Christ's 
gospel  except  its  spiritual  truth,  and  Christianity 
will  speedily  become  a  mere  ecclesiasticism  as 
much  as  Judaism  or  paganism  —  a  secularized 
church  using  the  religious  sentiment  of  mankind 
to  maintain  political  despotisms,  ready  to  give  the 
pretended  sanction  of  our  Lord  to  war,  slavery, 
Mammon-worship  and  every  other  crime,  fraud 
and  injustice  that  the  empire  may  establish  by 
some  felon  formula  of  law." 

And  the  letter  said,  "  and  there  will  grow  up  an 


THE  SWADDLING-BANDS  243 

ccclesiasticism  in  which  the  so-called  ministers  of 
Christ  shall  preach  the  gospel  for  money,  and 
there  shall  be  among  them  envy,  jealousy,  hatred, 
strife,  ambition  and  selfishness,  such  as  even  the 
heathen  permit  not  in  their  temples;  "  and  the  let 
ter  also  said:  "  The  church  so  constituted  shall 
be  the  master  of  ceremonies  for  countless  forms, 
doctrines  and  secular  authority,  condemned  by 
Jesus,  and  shall  lose  the  power  of  godliness  and 
the  beauty  of  truth,  even  as  the  Eusebians  them 
selves  admit  that  thaumaturgy  shall  fade  away;  " 
and  the  letter  concluded  as  follows:  "  Brethren, 
this  is  to  sell  our  Lord;  it  is  to  destroy  His  holy 
common  church;  it  is  to  establish  mere  Pharisaism 
upon  the  ruins  of  forsaken  and  forgotten  Chris 
tianity;  it  is  to  set  up  the  Anti-Christ" 

And  this  letter  having  been  read  by  many,  some 
of  them  who  had  signed  went  to  Eusebius  to  erase 
their  signatures  from  the  parchment;  to  whom  he 
answered:  "  The  parchment  hath  already  been 
sent  and  is  far  upon  the  way  to  the  emperor." 


CHAPTER  XIX 

IN  WHICH  THERE  IS  A  DEATH  AND  ALSO  A 
MARRIAGE 

'ITT'HILE  this  business  was  transacting  secretly, 
and  before  Eusebius  had  procured  the 
signatures  to  the  parchment  which  he  sent  to  Con- 
stantine,  after  the  centurion  Marcellus  had  been 
baptized  by  Epaphras  in  the  chapel  in  the  cata 
combs,  and  had  partaken  of  the  communion  in  one 
of  those  pleasant  Sabbath-day  conferences  which 
had  long  been  customary  between  himself,  Dorcas 
and  Epaphras,  the  young  man  spake  thus :  "  I  am, 
indeed,  very  happy,  Father  Epaphras,  in  the  faith 
of  Christ;  but  I  feel  bound  in  my  conscience  to 
abandon  the  military  service  of  the  empire,  and  to 
publicly  declare  my  faith  in  Jesus;  nor  can  I  have 
perfect  peace  until  this  shall  have  been  done." 

"  If  thou  do  this  thing  publicly,"  said  Epa 
phras,  "  the  Romans  will  put  thee  to  death,  both 
because  thou  art  a  Christian,  and  also  because  thou 
forsakest  the  military  life  without  the  consent  of 
the  emperor.  Nevertheless,  Marcellus,  consider 
the  matter  well,  and  follow  thou  the  teachings  of 
thine  own  conscience." 

244 


A  DEATH  AND  ALSO  A  MARRIAGE     245 

And  the  centurion  said:  "  I  have  considered  it 
very  fully.  I  know  that  the  duties  of  an  officer  in 
the  army  of  the  empire  and  the  duties  of  a  Chris 
tian  are  irreconcilable.  I  have  resolved  upon  this 
course,  and  will  pursue  it.  I  cannot  do  other 
wise." 

"  A  life  bought  by  the  sacrifice  of  one's  con 
science  is  purchased  at  too  dear  a  price,'1  said 
Epaphras.  "  The  Libellatici  and  the  Thurificati, 
who  have  purchased  of  the  heathen  priests  or 
magistrates  false  certificates  that  they  had  sacri 
ficed  to  the  pagan  gods,  when  it  was  not  true  that 
they  had  done  so,  in  order  to  escape  the  conse 
quences  of  having  been  discovered  to  be  Chris 
tians,  have  no  peace,  although  forgiven  by  the 
church." 

"  I  am  resolved,"  said  Marcellus,  "  and  I  have 
mentioned  the  matter  to  thee  chiefly  because  if  I 
be  slain  therefor,  perhaps  the  Lord  might  grant 
the  Anastasis,  which  I  do  desire  exceedingly,  if  it 
be  His  will." 

"  The  church  shall  pray  for  thee  in  that  be 
half,"  said  Epaphras.  "  Thou  understandest  that 
we  do  not  know  what  may  be  the  will  of  God 
concerning  thee !  " 

"  I  go  hence,"  said  Marcellus,  "  to  carry  out  my 
purpose.  If  I  perish,  I  perish.  Fare  thee 
well!" 

Then  the  presbyter  embraced  him  and  kissed 


246     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

him  on  his  forehead,  saying:     "  Farewell,  my  son ! 
The  peace  of  God  be  and  abide  with  thee !  " 

And  after  a  tender  leave-taking  of  Dorcas,  the 
centurion,  who  had  learned  the  way  to  and  from 
the  chapel  by  repeated  visits,  departed  upon  his 
dangerous  mission. 

The  next  evening,  when  the  legion  to  which  he 
belonged  was  mustered  for  customary  exercise, 
which  had  recently  become  frequent  and  onerous 
because  of  the  impending  war  with  Constantine, 
in  the  view  of  the  legion  and  of  a  crowd  that  had 
assembled  to  watch  their  evolutions,  the  centurion 
deliberately  left  the  head  of  his  century  and  ad 
vanced  to  the  legionary,  who  turned  fiercely  upon 
him  and  cried  out: 

"Why  hast  thou  left  thy  post?  What  dost 
thou  here?" 

Then  Marcellus  took  off  his  belt,  and  his  arms, 
and  the  insignia  of  his  office,  and  laid  them  down 
at  the  feet  of  the  legionary,  and  he  said  in  a  loud 
voice : 

"  Know  thou  that  I  have  become  a  Christian, 
whom  conscience  permitteth  not  to  bear  arms,  and 
I  do  here  resign  my  command,  refuse  to  serve 
longer,  and  will  follow  no  king  but  Jesus  Christ 
henceforth." 

But  the  legionary,  drawing  his  sword,  cried  out: 

"  I   care  not   for  thy  conscience,   nor   for   thy 


A  DEATH  AND  ALSO  A  MARRIAGE     247 

Christ,  but  for  military  order  and  obedience;  and 
if  thou  dost  not  instantly  resume  thine  arms,  and 
return  straight  to  thy  proper  place,  I  will  smite 
thee  dead  with  mine  own  hand." 

Marcellus  crossed  his  arms  upon  his  breast,  and, 
gazing  upon  the  legionary,  said : 

"  For  conscience'  sake  I  will  not  obey  thee. 
Strike  thou  home !  " 

And  thereupon  the  legionary  thrust  his  sword 
through  Marcellus'  bosom  so  that  the  point  there 
of  came  out  behind  his  back,  and  the  young  cen 
turion  sank  down  upon  his  knees,  and  then  fell  at 
full  length  upon  the  ground. 

And  the  legionary  set  his  foot  upon  the  breast 
of  Marcellus,  and  pulled  and  withdrew  his  two- 
edged  sword,  and  holding  it  aloft  did  cry  aloud, 
saying: 

"  So  may  all  traitors  and  all  Christians  die !  " 

At  the  order  of  the  legionary,  the  soldiers 
marched  past  the  centurion's  body  as  it  lay  prone 
upon  the  ground.  Then  four  men  were  told  off 
to  bear  it  away  from  the  Campus  Martius  and  lay 
it  where  it  would  not  obstruct  the  maneuvers, 
which  were  continued  as  though  no  such  terrible 
thing  had  happened,  while  a  messenger  was  dis 
patched  to  the  Vice-Prefect  Varus  bearing  the 
news  of  his  son's  treason  and  summary  execution 
at  the  hands  of  the  legionary. 

But  certain  men  among  those  who  stood  around, 


248     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

presently  came  forward,  raised  up  his  body,  and, 
having  brought  a  litter,  no  one  preventing  them, 
they  placed  the  body  thereon,  and  they  carried  it 
to  the  chapel  in  the  catacombs,  wherein  were  many 
awaiting  the  return  of  Epaphras  and  others  who 
had  gone  to  mingle  with  the  crowd  about  the 
Campus  Martius,  and  to  observe  the  action  of 
Marcellus,  and  what  might  come  of  it. 

And  Dorcas  also  was  with  them  there,  and  at 
the  selfsame  instant  the  legionary  smote  the  young 
man  she  felt  as  if  a  sword  had  pierced  her  own 
heart  also,  but  she  ceased  not  to  pray,  and  to  say: 
"  Surely  the  Lord  will  restore  him  to  us!  " 

And  when  those  that  brought  in  the  corpse  had 
laid  it  upon  the  long  table  in  the  sight  of  all, 
Epaphras,  the  presbyter,  prayed  mightily  to  God 
that  He  would  grant  the  Anastasis  for  Marcellus, 
and  all  the  people  answered,  "  Amen !  " 

And  Epaphras,  coming  round  to  the  table,  took 
the  hand  of  Marcellus  in  his  own,  saying  in  a  loud 
voice :  "  Brother,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  concern 
ing  thee,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth, 
arise  and  live !  " 

And  the  young  man  arose  and  stood  upon  his 
feet,  praising  the  Lord.  And  straightway  he 
clasped  unto  his  bosom  the  maiden  Dorcas,  and 
they  did  talk  with  each  other  briefly,  and  they  did 
call  the  presbyter  Epaphras  to  come  unto  them, 
and  thereupon  the  presbyter  did  call  the  rejoicing 


A  DEATH  AND  ALSO  A  MARRIAGE     249 

congregation  to  order,  and  when  they  were  seated 
he  said: 

"  Marcellus  and  Dorcas  desire  to  be  united  in 
matrimony  according  to  God's  holy  ordinance. 
Come  ye  forward !  " 

And  the  twain  came  forward,  hand  in  hand, 
and  Epaphras  saith :  "  Do  ye  each  take  each  other 
for  husband  and  wife,  of  your  own  free  will  and 
choice,  to  dwell  together  in  the  holy  estate  of 
Christian  marriage,  according  to  the  commands  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  in  His  Gospel  is  set 
forth  ?  "  And  both  of  them  answered,  "  We  do." 
Then  saith  Epaphras:  "  In  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  I 
declare  ye  twain  to  be  one  flesh.  Whom,  there 
fore,  God  hath  joined  together  let  no  man  put 
asunder."  And  they  both  answered,  "  Amen !  " 
and  all  the  people  said,  "  Amen  1  "  And  Mar 
cellus  put  his  arms  around  Dorcas'  neck  and  did 
kiss  her,  and  did  say  with  great  content,  "  Thou 
art  my  wife !  "  and  she  did  look  upon  him  with 
beaming  countenance  and  did  say,  "  Thou  art  my 
husband!" 

And  the  congregation  were  glad  and  did  rejoice, 
and  when  they  all  were  gone  Dorcas  took  up  her 
lamp  and  said:  "  Come,  husband  mine,  and  I  will 
show  to  thee  the  home  in  which  I  have  dwelt  so 
long."  And  hand  in  hand  the  twain  departed 
out  of  the  chapel. 


CHAPTER  XX 

FINIS 

,  the  Emperor  Constantine  in  due  time  re- 
ceived  the  parchment  which  Eusebius  sent  to 
him,  signed  by  many  bishops  and  presbyters,  and 
he  read  the  same  with  joy;  and  immediately  he  put 
his  legions  upon  the  march  to  Rome,  bearing  the 
cruciform  standards  which  they  called  Labarums. 
After  twice  defeating  the  armies  which  Maxen- 
tius  led  forth  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  Alps, 
on  the  27th  day  of  October,  A.D.  312,  his  forces 
were  cantoned  at  Saxa  Rubra,  and  upon  the  next 
day  he  attacked  the  army  of  the  Emperor  Maxen- 
tius,  then  drawn  up  in  battle  order  at  the  Fabricus 
Bridge,  nine  miles  from  Rome,  and  defeated  that 
army  with  great  slaughter.  And  the  Emperor 
Maxentius  did  attempt  to  swim  his  horse  across 
the  Tiber  and  so  escape  back  into  Rome,  but  he 
was  drowned  there  in  the  river;  and  there  was  no 
more  of  that  war,  and  Constantine  was  at  once 
recognized  as  Emperor  of  Italy,  as  well  as  of  the 
west,  and  as  Augustus. 

But  after  the  compact  which  Eusebius  had  pre 
pared  to  be  signed  by  the  presbyters  and  bishops 
had  received  their  signatures  and  had  been  de- 

250 


FINIS  251 

livered  to  faithful  messengers  to  be  conveyed  to 
the  Emperor  Constantine,  one  whom  Maxentius, 
by  his  magistrates,  had  ordered  to  be  beheaded, 
had  sent  earnest  requests  to  the  Presbyter  Epa 
phras  and  to  the  church  that  they  would  beseech 
God  in  his  behalf  that  the  Anastasis  might  be 
granted  unto  him;  and  they  conveyed  the  body  to 
the  chapel  in  the  catacombs,  and  did  pray  mightily 
as  aforetime,  but  God  would  not  raise  him  up. 
And  likewise  some  that  were  ill  besought  the 
prayers  of  the  church,  by  which  aforetime  many 
were  healed,  and  God  answered  not  their  prayers. 
And  the  deaf  came  to  be  relieved,  and  the  blind  to 
have  their  sight  restored,  but  no  miracle  occurred 
in  that  chapel  after  the  resurrection  of  Marcellus. 
And  Epaphras  was  sorely  grieved  and  his  church. 
And  when  they  found  that  God  no  more  regarded 
them  Epaphras  preached  unto  them  often  that  this 
"  came  from  the  alliance  made  with  Constantine; 
and  they  all  saw  that  thaumaturgy,  which  had  for 
three  hundred  years  been  the  glory  and  defense 
of  Christianity,  had  indeed  departed  from  the 
church  and  from  the  world." 

And  often  Epaphras  considered  with  them 
whether  they  should  not,  one  and  all,  leave  Rome 
and  the  Roman  Empire  and  even  journey  unto 
the  Isle  of  Man,  and  there  found  for  themselves 
and  their  children  a  community  unsecularized  by 
an  alliance  with  any  human  government.  And 


252     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

they  did  agree  to  keep  up  their  services  in  the 
chapel  every  Seventh  day,  and  to  wait  yet  a  little 
longer,  if  by  chance  the  Lord  would  put  into  the 
hearts  of  those  men  to  repent  of  their  sin,  and 
come  again  unto  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  But, 
notwithstanding,  they  made  all  necessary  prepa 
rations  to  depart  as  soon  as  it  should  become 
certain  that  the  secularization  of  the  church  would 
progress  to  a  hopeless  condition. 

And  Constantine  left  Rome  and  journeyed  to 
Milan  and  established  his  throne  in  that  city;  and 
about  April,  of  the  year  313,  did  the  Emperor 
Constantine  issue  to  the  Roman  people  "  The 
Edict  of  Milan,"  which  was  as  follows : 

a"  Wherefore,  as  I,  Constantine  Augustus,  came  under 
favorable  auspices  to  Milan,  and  took  under  consideration 
all  affairs  that  pertained  to  the  public  benefit  and  welfare, 
these  things  among  the  rest  appeared  to  us  to  be  most 
advantageous  and  profitable  to  all.  We  have  resolved 
among  the  first  things  to  ordain  those  matters  by  which 
the  reverence  and  worship  to  the  Deity  might  be  ex 
hibited.  That  is,  how  we  may  grant  likewise  to  the 
Christians,  and  to  all,  the  free  choice  to  follow  that  mode 
of  worship  which  they  may  wish:  that  whatsoever  di 
vinity  and  celestial  power  may  exist  may  be  propitious 
to  us  and  to  all  that  live  under  our  government.  There 
fore  we  have  decreed  the  following  ordinance  as  our  will 
with  a  salutory  and  most  correct  intention,  that  no  free- 

1  From  Eusebius  Eccles.  Hist. :  B.  x.  I.  c.  5. 


FINIS  253 

dom  at  all  shall  be  refused  to  the  Christians,  to  follow  or 
keep  their  observances  or  worship.  .  .  .  And  this  we 
further  decree  with  respect  to  the  Christians,  that  the 
places  in  which  they  were  formerly  accustomed  to  as 
semble,  concerning  which  also  we  formerly  wrote  to  you 
faithfully  in  a  different  form,  that  if  any  person  have 
purchased  these,  either  from  our  treasury  or  from  any 
other  one,  these  shall  restore  them  to  the  Christians, 
without  money  and  without  demanding  any  price,  with 
out  any  superadded  value  or  augmentation,  without  de 
lay  or  hesitancy,  and  if  any  have  happened  to  receive 
these  places  as  presents  that  they  shall  restore  them  as 
soon  as  possible  to  the  Christians,  so  that  if  either  those 
that  purchased  or  those  that  received  them  as  presents 
have  anything  to  request  of  our  munificence,  they  may  go 
to  the  provincial  governor  as  the  judge,  that  provision 
may  also  be  made  for  them  by  our  clemency.  All  of  which 
it  will  be  necessary  to  be  delivered  up  to  the  body  of  Chris- 
tians  by  your  care  without  any  delay.  And  since  the 
Christians  themselves  are  known  to  have  had  not  only 
those  places  where  they  were  accustomed  to  meet,  but 
other  places  also  belonging  not  to  individuals  among  themf 
but  to  the  right  of  the  whole  body  of  Christians,  you  will 
also  command  all  these,  by  virtue  of  the  law  before  men 
tioned,  without  any  hesitancy,  to  be  restored  to  these  same 
Christians,  that  is,  to  their  body  and  to  each  conventicle 
respectively.  The  aforesaid  consideration,  to  wit,  being 
observed ;  namely,  that  they  who,  as  we  have  said,  restore 
them  without  valuation  and  price  may  expect  their  in 
demnity  from  our  munificence  and  liberality." 


254     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

And  Constantine  likewise  issued  another  decree, 
in  which  he  said: 

"  Whence  it  is  our  will,  that  when  them  shalt  receive 
this  epistle,  if  any  of  those  things  belonging  to  the  com 
mon  church  of  the  Christians  in  the  several  cities  or 
other  places  are  now  possessed  either  by  the  decurions  or 
any  others,  these  thou  shalt  cause  immediately  to  be 
restored  to  their  churches.  .  .  .  Make  all  haste  to 
restore  as  soon  as  possible  all  that  belongs  to  the  church, 
whether  gardens,  houses,  or  anything  else!' 

And  Constantine  also  wrote  to  Caecilianus, 
Bishop  of  Carthage: 

"  As  we  have  determined  that,  in  all  the  provinces  of 
Africa,  Numidia,  and  Mauritania  something  should  be 
granted  to  certain  ministers  of  the  legitimate  and  most 
holy  common  religion  to  defray  their  expenses,  I  have 
given  letters  to  Ursus,  the  most  illustrious  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Africa,  and  have  communicated  to  him  that 
he  shall  provide  to  pay  to  your  authority  three  thousand 
folles.  After  you  shall  have  obtained  this  sum,  you  are 
to  order  these  moneys  to  be  distributed  among  the  afore 
said  ministers,  according  to  the  abstract  addressed  to  thee 
from  Hosius.  But  if  thou  shalt  learn,  perhaps,  that  any 
thing  shall  be  wanting  to  complete  this  my  purpose  with 
regard  to  all,  thou  art  authorized,  without  delay,  to  make 
demands  for  whatever  thou  mayest  ascertain  to  be  neces 
sary  from  Heraclides,  the  procurator  of  our  possessions, 
and  I  have  also  commanded  him  when  present,  that  if  thy 
authority  should  demand  any  moneys  of  him,  he  should 


FINIS  255 

see  that  it  should  be  paid  without  delay.  And,  as  I  ascer 
tained  that  some  men,  who  are  of  no  settled  mind,  wished 
to  divert  the  people  from  the  most  holy  Catholic  Church 
by  a  certain  pernicious  adulteration,  I  wish  thee  to  under 
stand  that  I  have  given,  both  to  the  Proconsul  Anulinus, 
and  to  Patricius,  Vicar-general  of  the  Prefect,  that  among 
all  the  rest,  they  should  particularly  pay  the  necessary 
attention  to  this,  nor  should  by  any  means  tolerate  that 
this  should  be  overlooked.  Wherefore,  if  thou  seest  any 
of  these  men  persevering  in  this  madness,  thou  shalt, 
without  any  hesitancy,  proceed  to  the  aforesaid  fudges, 
and  report  it  to  them,  that  they  may  animadvert  upon 
themf  as  I  commanded  them  when  present." 

Wherefore,  Epaphras  plainly  perceived  that  the 
whole  Christian  constitution  of  the  common 
church  was  subverted,  and  a  state  religion  or  eccle- 
siasticism  substituted  for  it. 

And  when  the  Presbyter  Epaphras  had  read 
this  Edict  of  Milan,  and  when  he  had  learned  that 
the  Emperor  Constantine  had  caused  to  be  raised, 
in  the  midst  of  Rome,  a  statue  of  himself,  bearing 
a  cross  in  its  right  hand,  with  an  inscription  which 
referred  the  victory  of  its  arms  and  the  deliver 
ance  of  Rome  to  the  virtue  of  that  salutary  sign, 
the  true  symbol  of  force  and  courage;  and  had 
learned  that  "  the  same  symbol  sanctified  the  arms 
of  the  soldiers  of  Constantine;  that  the  cross  glit 
tered  on  their  helmets,  was  engraved  on  their 
shields,  was  interwoven  in  their  banners;  and  that 


256     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

the  consecrated  emblems  which  adorned  the  person 
of  the  emperor  himself  were  distinguished  only 
by  richer  materials  and  more  exquisite  workman 
ship;"  when  he  learned  that  Constantine,  at  the 
same  time,  issued  two  edicts,  "  one  of  which  en 
joined  the  solemn  observance  of  Sunday  "  (which 
he  therein  denominated  the  "  Day  of  the  Sun,"  in 
order  not  to  offend  the  pagans),  and  the  other 
of  which  "  directed  the  regular  consultation  of  the 
Aruspices;"  when  he  saw  that  Constantine  en 
riched  the  pagan  temples;  placed  the  figures  and 
attributes  of  Jupiter,  Apollo,  Mars,  and  Hercules, 
upon  the  money  issued  from  his  mint;  made  a 
solemn  apotheosis  of  his  father,  Constantius;  and 
in  all  respects,  attempted  to  hold  fast  to  the  hea 
then  with  one  hand,  and  to  the  church  with  the 
other,  manifestly  designing,  and,  to  a  large  extent 
accomplishing,  the  union  of  these  two  systems; 
and  when  he  saw  the  church  exalting  the  character, 
and  fawning  and  flattering  the  greatness  and 
goodness  of  this  man,  who  still  wore  the  imperial 
purple  and  had  never  even  been  baptized,  he  in 
formed  his  own  faithful  people  thereof,  who  had 
already  agreed  that,  if  that  thorough  seculariza 
tion  of  the  church  which  he  had  foreboded  should 
follow  the  union  of  church  and  state,  they  would 
leave  Italy  with  him,  and  remove  into  some  distant 
land  beyond  the  confines  of  the  Roman  Empire, 
and  there  seek  to  maintain  a  community  for  them- 


FINIS  257 

selves  and  their  children,  in  which  the  forms  and 
doctrine  of  the  democracy  of  Christ  should  be 
fully  established;  and  in  the  month  of  June,  in  the 
year  313,  having  completed  all  their  preparations 
for  entering  upon  their  long  journey  to  the  far 
North,  they  met  together  to  hold  divine  service, 
for  the  last  time,  in  their  loved  chapel  in  the  cata 
combs;  and  at  the  conclusion  thereof,  with  stream 
ing  eyes  and  aching  heart,  the  Presbyter  Epaphras 
said  unto  them :  "  Let  us  arise  and  go  hence !  " 
and  he  took  his  lamp  in  his  hand  and  sadly  moved 
away;  and  Marcellus  and  Dorcas  followed  next 
after  him;  and  then,  in  slow  and  solemn  proces 
sion,  bearing  their  lamps  in  their  hands  through 
the  long  galleries,  came  the  sorrowful  but  faithful 
congregation. 

And  likewise  other  faithful  presbyters  and 
bishops  and  their  people,  who,  also,  refused  to  be 
tray  their  Lord  by  adopting  the  Roman  laws 
which  sanctioned  war,  and  slavery,  and  Mammon- 
worship  in  the  matter  of  private  ownerships  of 
property,  segregated  themselves  into  little  com 
munities  in  Italy,  Hispania,  Gaul  and  Germany, 
seeking  to  maintain  for  themselves  and  their  chil 
dren  the  democracy  of  Christ's  common  church; 
and  abbeys  and  monasteries  sprang  up  out  of  these 
communities.  But  in  the  lapse  of  time  the  secu 
larized  church  became  a  human  government,  and 
forced  them  also  to  come  under  their  ecclesiastical 


258     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

laws;  and  the  church  departed  more  and  more 
from  the  fundamental  laws  of  primitive  Chris 
tianity,  conformed  more  and  more  unto  the  world, 
and  finally  became  that  which  we  now  see,  an 
ornate  and  costly  ecclesiasticism  that  despises  the 
poor,  perverts  the  Gospel,  and  worships  Mammon 
in  the  name  of  the  Son  of  the  carpenter  —  an  in 
verted  Christianity  that  would  feel  itself  to  be  in 
sulted  if  one  should  call  it  Anti-Christ. 


But  Epaphras,  followed  by  his  whole  congre 
gation- —  men,  women,  and  children,  from  the 
gray  grandsire  to  the  babe  in  arms  —  passed 
through  Rome  by  the  Appian  Way,  until  they 
reached  the  Temple  of  Vesta,  and  thence  along 
the  banks  of  the  Tiber,  until  they  came  to  the 
^Elian  Bridge,  in  solemn  procession,  with  wagons 
and  chariots  drawing  their  household  goods,  and 
grain  for  seed,  and  calves,  and  lambs,  goats,  and 
poultry,  and  all  iron  implements  of  agriculture 
and  of  mechanics.  And  they  ended  the  first  day's 
journey  on  that  spot  of  ground  which  was  after 
ward  covered  by  the  great  temple  of  St.  Peter 
(whom  after  ages  confounded  with  a  Galilean  of 
the  same  name,  who  was  a  Christian),  and  at 
night,  under  the  open  heavens,  Epaphras  held  the 
last  Christian  church  service  that  was  ever  wit 
nessed  in  the  City  of  the  Caesars. 


FINIS  259 

And  day  after  day  they  pursued  their  journey, 
and  night  after  night  their  songs  and  prayers  as 
cended  unto  heaven. 

And  so  they  went  through  Italy,  and  crossed 
the  Alps,  and  journeyed  into  Gaul,  until,  about  the 
close  of  the  first  month,  they  reached  Lutetia,  and 
here  for  a  short  space  they  tarried,  building  and 
buying  ships  wherewith  to  continue  their  exodus 
down  the  river  and  over  the  sea. 

And  night  after  night  came  the  deacons,  saying 
unto  Epaphras: 

"  Father,  whither  dost  thou  lead  us?" 

And  night  after  night  Epaphras  answered, 
saying : 

"  Beyond  the  limits  of  the  Roman  Empire  unto 
some  land  wherein  we  may  serve  the  Lord." 

And  the  boats  were  completed,  the  people  em 
barked,  with  their  implements  of  agriculture, 
their  personal  property,  their  mechanics'  tools, 
their  calves,  and  sheep,  and  goats,  and  their 
poultry,  and,  with  the  flowing  river,  they  wan 
dered  to  the  sea. 

And  at  last  the  vast  expanse  of  waters  lay  out 
spread  before  them,  and  the  deacons  came  to 
Epaphras,  saying: 

"  Father,  whither  dost  thou  lead  us  now?  "  for 
the  ships  were  small  and  the  waters  great. 

And  Epaphras  said  again: 

"  Beyond  the  limits  of  the  Roman  Empire  unto 


260     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

some  land  wherein  we  may  serve  the  Lord.  Cast 
off!  Hoist  sail!  Trust  God!  " 

And  slowly  the  ships  drove  over  against  the 
coast  of  Britain,  and  they  coasted  westerly  until 
they  came  upon  a  long  peninsula  trending  south 
wardly,  and  they  doubled  that  point,  and  the  sea 
spread  out  before  them. 

And  afterward  they  coasted  northwardly,  until 
they  passed  the  wall  of  Severus,  that  marked  the 
extreme  limits  of  the  Roman  power,  and  the 
people  of  that  land  refused  to  receive  them  or  to 
permit  them  to  land  upon  their  shores. 

Then  came  the  deacons,  distressfully,  and  said 
unto  Epaphras: 

"  Father,  whither  dost  thou  lead  us  now?" 

The  presbyter  stood  up  and  prayed,  and  after 
ward  he  answered  them,  saying : 

"  Whithersoever  the  Lord  shall  guide  us.  Cast 
off!  Hoist  sail!" 

A  wind  from  the  west  drove  off  the  ships  from 
that  inhospitable  coast.  And  days  and  nights  they 
were  on  the  deep,  when  suddenly  a  land  appeared 
before  them.  There  was  a  long,  low  line  of  fer 
tile  soil,  and  abrupt  mountains,  and  numerous 
sparkling  rivers,  and  a  mighty  sweep  of  forests; 
and  the  land  was  beautiful.  Then  cried  Epaphras 
from  the  foremost  ship :  "  It  is  a  virgin  land, 
where  Rome's  imperial  eagles  never  flew!  Be 
hold  our  pleasant  home !  " 


FINIS  261 

And  they  made  land  safely;  and  they  disem 
barked,  and  found  no  man,  but  deer,  and  quail, 
and  partridges,  and  grouse,  and  abundant  fish. 

And  first  of  all  they  unloaded  the  ships,  and  by 
the  request  of  Epaphras  they  brake  every  boat  in 
pieces;  and  their  camp  was  pitched  far  inland;  and 
they  began  to  build  cottages  and  to  prepare  the 
ground  for  seed. 

Then  went  Epaphras,  and  with  his  own  hand  he 
cut  a  stone  from  the  mountain,  and  he  fashioned  it 
with  tools,  and  drew  it  unto  a  convenient  place; 
and  he  called  them  all  to  look  upon  it;  and  they 
said  unto  him:  "What  is  that,  Epaphras?" 

And  he  said:  "  I  lay  here  the  corner-stone  of  a 
Christian  church;  who  will  build  thereon?" 

And  straightway  every  able  man  quarried  a 
stone  and  brought  it  thither,  and  the  church  grew 
from  day  to  day. 

And  their  lambs,  and  kids,  and  calves,  and  poul 
try  grew  to  flocks  and  herds. 

And  they  set  a  watch  upon  the  loftiest  peak  of 
the  mountain  night  and  day,  and  as  often  as  any 
ship  appeared  in  the  offing  the  man  Epaphras 
prayed  unto  God,  and  a  mist  came  up  out  of  the 
sea  and  covered  all  the  island,  so  that  no  ship 
could  find  haven  or  land  thereon. 

They  had  a  church,  and  a  school;  and  held  all 
things  in  common  except  wives,  even  as  Jesus  com 
manded;  and  they  prospered  in  all  things,  serving 


262     DORCAS,  DAUGHTER  OF  FAUSTINA 

God  in  the  beauty  of  holiness ;  until  the  man  Epa- 
phras  grew  old  and  died,  having  enjoined  upon 
them  that  they  should  build  no  ships,  and  should 
pray  for  the  mists  to  rise  whenever  ships  might 
come  in  sight,  unless  they  should  be  wrecked  or  in 
distress. 

And  the  people  elected  Marcellus  to  be  pres 
byter;  and  he  followed  in  the  way  of  Epaphras; 
and  the  people  builded  no  ships;  and  the  presbyter 
raised  the  mists  to  hide  the  island  when  any  ships 
hove  in  sight ;  and  the  people  were  happy,  prosper 
ous  and  free. 

But  the  presbyter  Marcellus  grew  old  and  died, 
and  Dorcas  with  him;  and  others  succeeded  him 
in  the  sacred  office,  until,  about  the  year  400  came 
in  new  generations  of  men  that  forsook  the  tradi 
tion  of  their  fathers,  and  permitted  ships  to  land 
upon  the  island,  and  did  not  pray  that  God  would 
send  the  mist  to  hide  it;  and  more  and  more  they 
held  intercourse  with  ships  of  Britain  and  of 
Rome;  and  in  the  year  412  they  had  their  pres 
byter  converted  into  a  bishop,  and  sent  him  unto 
the  Ecumenical  Council  at  Aries;  and  he  returned 
with  a  new  system  that  prevailed  throughout  the 
Roman  Empire;  and  they  more  and  more  aban 
doned  the  customs  of  their  fathers;  and  more  and 
more  they  conformed  unto  the  imperial  laws  con 
cerning  war,  slavery  and  private  property-rights; 
and  thaumaturgy  failed  from  among  them;  and 


FINIS  263 

the  church  was  received  into  Communion  with  the 
ecclesiastical  system  established  by  Constantine, 
and  secularized  through  and  through. 

Then  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  ceased  every 
where  on  earth,  and  the  last  of  the  primitive 
churches  forsook  Christ,  and  conformed  unto  the 
world. 

When  shall  His  kingdom  again  come  in  very 
truth  upon  the  Earth  ? 


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MAY  181933 

JUL6    1955  LU 


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